FeatureIPLIPL 2021

Five Favourites for the emerging player award in IPL 2021

In 2008, IPL introduced an award named ” Best U-19 player” to motivate younger players who had exceeded expectations. Since then the award’s name has regularly changed and in its current form it is denoted as ” Emerging player”. To qualify for the award, a player must have played less than 25 IPL games, 20 ODIs and 4 Test matches. In this article, we will take a look at five cricketers who have the potential to be the emerging player of IPL 2021.

#5 Ravi Bishnoi

Bishnoi was the leading wicket-taker of the U- 19 World cup held in 2020 and showed a lot of promise last season. He was often the best bowler for Punjab in 2020 and showed a lot of control which is terrific for a 20-year-old. In 2020, Bishnoi played all 14 games for Punjab and picked up 12 wickets at an economy of 7.37.

The lack of a premium fast bowler meant Bishnoi was forced to bowl a defensive line and length throughout the tournament. In 2021, the presence of Richardson and Meredith will allow Bishnoi to look for wickets in the middle overs.

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#4 Riyan Parag

It is astonishing that Parag is still just 19 despite playing two seasons of IPL. He scored his maiden IPL fifty in 2019 but the Royals did not utilize him at the top and did not give him enough opportunities to shine. That might change this year since Uthappa has been traded and there is competition for an opening spot.

Stokes and Parag might be the Royals’ opening combination this season with captain Samson coming in at number 3. If given consistent chances, Parag is definitely a contender for the emerging player award.

#3 Priyam Garg

Garg was the captain of the Indian U-19 team which finished as runners-up in the 2020 World Cup. In his first IPL season, Garg was used as a floater by SRH. Sunrisers tried a lot of opening combinations in 2020 and in qualifier 2, Garg opened with Warner.

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There is a good chance SRH will give Garg the license to play freely in the powerplay and use Williamson at number 4 to control the game’s tempo. Garg scored 133 runs last season, including a superb half-century in just 26 balls against CSK.

#2 Ruturaj Gaikwad

Gaikwad’s performances last season received a lot more attention due to Dhoni’s comment about youngsters. Debut day nerves resulted in Gaikwad getting dismissed cheaply in his first game for CSK. However, CSK promoted him to the top and Gaikwad repaid their trust by scoring three consecutive half-centuries to end the tournament.

He did not make a mark in Vijay Hazare and SMAT tournaments, but CSK will surely give him a consistent run as an opener in 2021 IPL. Gaikwad averages 51 in IPL but he needs to increase his strike rate to come across as a feared opener. The emerging player award will be his if he continues the form he showed at the fag end of 2020 IPL.

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#1 Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna is the oldest and most experienced of the players on this list. He has taken a lot of wickets for his domestic side Karnataka and recently debuted for India as well. Krishna’s numbers so far in the IPL are not impressive but KKR have also utilized his talent fully.

Right from his first IPL season, Krishna has been asked to bowl in the powerplay and the death. After his India cap, Krishna will have more confidence in his role as a death overs operator. He has only 18 wickets so far but this could be a breakthrough IPL for the 25-year-old pacer.

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