The Indian Premier League is a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to grab onto their chances and show their mettle on the biggest stage, and there were plenty of breakout stars from IPL 2023 who left their mark.

This is an XI of players who have not been capped at senior international level, but had outstanding individual tournaments.

Prabhsimran Singh (Punjab Kings)

358 runs @ 25.57, SR: 150.42, 100s: 1, 50s: 1

Before this season, Prabhsimran Singh had only featured in six matches across four IPL seasons before this year. However, the 22-year-old established himself as a star with a bright future in 2023. He finished with a remarkable total of 358 runs, falling just 15 runs short of his team’s highest run-scorer, Shikhar Dhawan. Simran displayed exceptional batting skills, striking the ball at an impressive rate of 150.42. He also became the sixth uncapped Indian to make an IPL ton when he reached the feat against the Delhi Capitals on a challenging Kotla pitch.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals)

625 runs @ 48.08, SR: 163.61, 100s: 1, 50s: 5

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Rajasthan Royals’ dynamic opener, truly lit up the stage this season by amassing a staggering total of 625 runs at a strike rate of 164. The young left-hander not only showcased his stylish batting but also proved that he possesses immense power and could be the T20 opener India have longed for in the format. Jaiswal outshone two of the most formidable T20 players in the team in this edition: England’s captain Jos Buttler and his own skipper Sanju Samson. He made the fastest fifty by any batter during the edition, reaching the feat in 13 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders. His magnificent knock of 124 runs in the 1000th IPL game against Mumbai Indians, at a strike rate of 200, displayed his big-hitting skills.

Tilak Varma (Mumbai Indians)

343 runs @ 42.88, SR: 164.11, 50s: 1

This season, Varma’s elegance, composure, and power-hitting were on full display in pressure situations. With a total of 274 runs in nine matches and a striking strike rate of 158, he was one of the standouts from the team. His unbeaten 84 in 46 balls against RCB after his team collapsed to 48-4 highlighted his ability to stay calm under pressure and take on the responsibility. Despite unfortunate setbacks in the form of injury and illness, which sidelined him for five games, Varma’s brief stint was ample proof of his immense potential.

Nehal Wadhera (Mumbai Indians)

241 runs @ 26.78, SR: 145.18, 50s: 2

With no previous exposure to T20 cricket, the IPL 2023 season marked a remarkable breakthrough for the emerging talent. Seizing the opportunity presented by Varma’s injury, Nehal Wadhera showcased his skills, forcing experts to name him as a star for the future. He first gave a glimpse of his talent in his debut game, when he struck a 13-ball 21, and subsequent knocks of 40 off 21 balls against GT, along with an unbeaten 52 in 34 against RCB further solidified his reputation. He made a fighting 64 in 51 on a tricky Chepauk surface, showing he has the game to play in different conditions.

Rinku Singh (Kolkata Knight Riders)

474 runs @ 59.25, SR: 149.53, 50s: 4

Rinku Singh, the dependable player for KKR, is well on his way to earning an India cap soon after a stellar IPL 2023. With a remarkable tally of 474 runs, Rinku emerged as the top scorer for his team. In a breathtaking showdown against the Gujarat Titans, he achieved the unthinkable, single-handedly guiding his side to victory by smashing five maximums in the final over. He continued his run even after the game, hitting 29 sixes and was unbeaten five times in seven run chases.

Dhruv Jurel (Rajasthan Royals)

152 runs @ 21.71, SR: 172.73, HS: 34*

Jurel only scored 152 runs this season, but his strike rate of 172.73 was the fifth-highest by any batter this year (minimum 150 runs). He consistently batted in the lower middle order and played impactful knocks, leaving even Ian Bishop impressed.

Jitesh Sharma (Punjab Kings)

309 runs @ 23.77, SR: 156.06, HS: 49*

Sharma the wicket-keeping dynamo possesses an awe-inspiring ability to hit the ball with brute force. Finishing the season with over 300 runs and a strike rate of 156, he left a huge impact in the IPL and was one of the brightest stars for his team. His extraordinary performance has garnered attention from legendary cricketers like Virender Sehwag, Anil Kumble, and Ravi Shastri, who are eager to witness this Punjab Kings’ batsman donning the esteemed Indian jersey.

Akash Madhwal (Mumbai Indians)

14 wickets @ 15.64, ER: 8.59, BBI: 5-5

The Mumbai Indians bowler impressed in the Eliminator, with figures of 5-5, the best-ever registered in the history of an IPL knockout game. His death bowling especially was the standout. Madhwal ended with an economy rate of 8.09 in the last four overs and took on the fast-bowling duties for the franchise in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer.

Yash Thakur (Lucknow Super Giants)

13 wickets @ 22.23, ER: 9.08, BBI: 4-37

Yash Thakur made a mark with his limited chances for the Lucknow Super Giants and built on his stellar performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, where he claimed an impressive tally of 15 wickets in 10 matches, with an economy rate of 7.17. He showcased his talent by snatching 13 wickets in nine games and picked up eight wickets in his last four games.

Suyash Sharma (Kolkata Knight Riders)

10 wickets @ 32.10, ER: 8.23, BBI: 3-30

Suyash Sharma, had no professional experience before he made his IPL debut against RCB. He joined forces with Varun Chakravarthy and took over the role of the second spinner with ease as Sunil Narine’s poor form continued. Suyash ended as the third-highest wicket-taker for the Knight Riders, claiming 10 scalps despite playing 11 games. Considering the significance of a leg spinner in the international arena and Yuzvendra Chahal’s recent form slump, Suyash could potentially find himself in the reckoning for an India cap soon, particularly in the shortest format of the game.

Tushar Deshpande (Chennai Super Kings)

21 wickets @ 26.85, ER: 9.92, BBI: 3-45

Tushar Deshpande joined CSK as a net bowler in 2021 before being bought at his base price of INR 20 lakh last year by the franchise. In the previous season, he had only featured in two matches for the team. However, this year, the 27-year-old emerged as a bankable bowler for the side, getting crucial wickets with his pace, swing and variety. In the absence of key seamers, Deshpande was asked to lead the bowling attack and justified MS Dhoni’s unwavering belief in him.

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