Parag, Gopal, Iyer: Young Talents of IPL 2019 Going Great Guns

(Photo: BCCI/IPL)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 is at its business end and as the words are engraved on the trophy - 'Yatra Pratibha Avsara Prapnotihi', the tournament has been the perfect platform where ‘Talent Meets Opportunity, since its inception in 2008.

This year is also no different and as the 2019 tournament campaign read -- ‘Game Banayega Name’, several promising talents have let their performance do the talking.

Be it Shreyas Iyer's maturity or Pant's blazing batting, nothing has gone unnoticed by fans, selectors or anyone associated with the league. This year yet again, IPL has served as a platform to a plethora of youngsters who staked their claim with some impactful performances.

17-year-old Riyan Parag became the youngest cricketer to score an IPL half-century.(Photo: BCCI/IPL)

Riyan Parag, the 17-year-old budding talent, is the very first cricketer from Assam to play in the league and has carved a special place in every cricket fan’s heart with his brilliant 43-run knock against Mumbai Indians, earlier this season.

Guwahati-born Riyan, who plays with a ‘Gamusa’ tucked in his trousers, missed out on becoming the youngest half centurion in the history of IPL not once but twice before eventually scoring a brilliant half century against Delhi Capitals to break the record. The young Parag has won a lot of praise from the fans as well as experts.

Shreyas Gopal, who played for Rajasthan Royals, turned his fortunes around with his consistent performances. This year the leggie scalped 18 wickets in 13 games, including a hat-trick where he scalped Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis.

Mumbai Indians' Alzarri Joseph made sure the world took notice of him as he achieved the best figures by a bowler on IPL debut. 6/12 by the pacer is also the best figures in the history of the league.

Gopal picked up wickets of Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers twice each this season. (Photo: BCCI/ IPL)

Kolkata Knight Riders' Prithvi Raj played just one game in his IPL debut this year. But the perception about him changed when one comes to know that the only wicket he bagged belonged to the current Orange Cap holder David Warner. Prithvi Raj could not save KKR from losing the game but definitely made a mark by sending Warner packing in his debut game for KKR.

Under Iyer’s captaincy Delhi made the IPL playoffs for the first time since 2012. (Photo: AP Photo)

Delhi Capitals’ Shreyas Iyer, the youngest IPL captain at 24, contributed to the success of Delhi Capitals with 442 runs with the team at third position. His constant passion for playing well and the sudden rush of responsibility cemented his position as the future of Indian cricket.

On the other hand, under the able guidance of the legendary MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar is swinging away to success. The Agra born pacer has been impressive especially on the Chepauk pitch that is known to aid spinners with his pace bowling scalping 16 wickets in 14 games.