IPL 2023: 5 youngsters to watch out for

Cameron Green. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to kick-start on March 31. The tournament opener will witness the defending champions Gujarat Titans clash against Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Many prominent figures of the international arena will feature in the marquee tournament. Apart from the renowned names, many young players will also take part in the high-profile competition. These cricketers have proven their mettle in the T20 circuit and could set the IPL 2023 ablaze with their performances.

Here we look at five young players to watch out for in IPL 2023

5. Vidwath Kaverappa

Vidwath Kaverappa’s stocks have been on a meteoric rise from the time he broke into the Indian domestic circuit in March 2022. He has made the new ball talk and provided his side with early breakthroughs. Moreover, the 24-year-old has been impeccable at the other stages of the innings as well.

Kaverappa has featured in eight List-A matches for Karnataka and bagged 17 wickets at a superb average of 13.17. Talking about the T20 format, he has played eight matches and picked up 18 scalps an economy of 6.36. Punjab Kings liked what they saw in the right-arm pacer and included him in their IPL squad for the upcoming season.

In the recently concluded season of the Ranji Trophy, Kaverappa was quite magnificent and bagged 30 wickets in eight matches at an average of 20.43. He has been at the top of his game of late and could take the 16th IPL edition by storm with his bowling displays.

4. Tristan Stubbs

Tristan Stubbs is a proven performer in the shortest format of the game. He is a ferocious striker of the cricket ball and has dismantled bowling attacks with his flamboyant stroke play. The 22-year-old has featured in 53 T20 matches and scored 1028 runs at a strike rate of 151.17.

Stubbs has displayed his class in the international arena too. He has taken the attack to the opposition right from the get-go and helped turn the game in the favour of South Africa. The youngster has smashed 173 runs in 13 T20Is at a stunning strike rate of 164.76.

In a fickle T20 format, playing an aggressive brand of cricket has become the need of the hour and Stubbs is someone who embodies that approach. Thus, Mumbai Indians retained him for IPL 2023. The South African batter would be eager to bring his A-game into play in the forthcoming season of the cash-rich league.

3. Joshua Little

Joshua Little has been an integral part of Ireland’s team across formats. He has rattled batters with his swing and wreaked havoc with the ball. The 23-year-old has featured in 53 T20Is and bagged 62 wickets at an economy of 7.65. In the ODIs, he has picked up 38 wickets in 25 matches at an economy of 5.64.

Little made the year 2022 his own with his exploits on the cricket field. He featured in 26 T20Is in the last calendar year and picked up 39 wickets at an economy of 7.58. The left-arm pacer displayed his bowling might in the T20 World Cup 2022 as well, taking 11 wickets in seven games at an economy of 7.00.

Therefore, when Little’s turn arrived at the 2023 player auction, Gujarat Titans went all guns blazing to sign him and grabbed the  pacer for INR 4.4 crore. The Dublin-born is in the form of his life and would look to weave magic with the ball in his debut IPL season.

2. Harry Brook

Harry Brook has set the international circuit on fire since he donned the national colours. He has obliterated bowlers with his marauding bat and piled on runs for fun. On his day, the 24-year-old has taken down even the best of bowlers and stamped his authority on the cricket field.

Brook has made six appearances for England in the longest format of the game and amassed 809 runs at an incredible average of 80.90. Coming to the shortest format, the swashbuckling batter has played 20 matches and smashed 372 runs at a strike rate of 137.77.

Sunrisers Hyderabad went hammer and tongs at the IPL 2023 auction to rope Brook into their side and eventually, spent an insane sum of INR 13.25 crore to sign him. The England batter would look to put up a show with the bat in the upcoming edition of the lucrative T20 tournament and justify his hefty price tag.

1. Cameron Green

Cameron Green is one of the most exciting prospects in Australia’s cricketing circles. He has put up an exhibition of his glorious stroke play and taken bowling attacks to the cleaners. Also, the 23-year-old has been a wily customer with the ball and provided his side with timely breakthroughs.

Green has featured in 20 Tests and accumulated 941 runs at an average of 37.64. On the bowling front, he has picked up 23 wickets at an average of 34.30. When it comes to the shortest format, the Australian all-rounder has scored 139 runs in eight games at a sensational strike rate of 173.75 and bagged five scalps in those outings.

Green, with his ability to contribute in both departments, is a valuable addition to any side and therefore, Mumbai Indians spent a staggering sum of INR 17.5 crore to sign him at the 2023 player auction. Cameron would look to light up the 16th IPL edition with his all-round performances.