IPL 2019: 4 Indian debutants who could make a mark

Ever since its inception, the IPL has given India numerous talented young players. The latest one, Krunal Pandya, who is now a member of India's T20I squad and is winning matches for them already. Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan, Hardik Pandya, and Yuzvendra Chahal are a few others are other examples of stars who made the shift. This year too, franchises went all-out on raw talent and weren't shy to empty their purses on lesser-known names.

Let's have a quick look at the fresh faces who can make an impact this year in the IPL.

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#4 - Shivam Dube - Royal Challengers Bangalore

Shivam Dube will be expected to perform with both the bat and the ball for RCB

He was roped in by RCB for 5 crores. Shivam, who hails from Mumbai is an all-rounder who bats left-handed and bowls right-arm medium pace. The problem with RCB is that they don't have a finisher who bats at 6 or 7. In the past, the team has tumbled as soon as Kohli and ABD got out. Shivam would be the perfect fit in the RCB lineup, someone who can contribute with the bowl, hit big sixes and stake claim for the finisher role in the team.

Shivam hogged the limelight when he hit Swapnil Singh for 5 sixes in 5 balls in Ranji Trophy and had previously accomplished the feat against Pravin Tambe in the Mumbai T20 league. He has been a revelation in the Mumbai Ranji Team this year. He was the second highest run-scorer for the team (632 runs in 8 matches), which was just 20 short of Siddhesh Lad's tally of 652 runs. With 23 wickets, he also became the leading wicket-taker for his side by some distance. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy final, he ran through Delhi's middle order and returned with figures of 3/29 helping his side lift the trophy.

Deemed to be the next Kapil Dev, Shivam would be a certain starter in the RCB lineup and would be exciting to watch. If he can impress the RCB captain, who knows he might get a call-up from the Indian cricket team as well.

#3 - Prabhsimran Singh - Kings XI Punjab

Prabhsimran Singh ( second from right ) - Captain of Patiala U-19 team

The explosive wicket-keeper batsman from Patiala was bought by the KXIP franchise for a whopping 4.8 crore after few rounds of intense bidding by many teams. KXIP were devoid of a full-time wicket-keeper last season with KL Rahul taking charge behind the stumps.

This year, they have also invested in Nicolas Pooran who is wicket-keeper batsman from Trinidad and Tobago. But, Prabhsimran is set to get chances in the 2-month long league.Yet to play a first-class match, Prabhsimran caught the eye of the selectors when he smashed his way to 298 off just 301 balls against Amritsar in the semi-final of the Punjab U-23 Inter-District Cricket Tournament. He also captained the Indian Under-19 team that won the Asia Cup last year. Prabhsimran could fill in for the full-time wicket-keeper position in the KXIP franchise.

#2 - Varun Chakravarthy - Kings XI Punjab

Originally a wicket-keeper, a knee injury forced Varun to become a spinner.

How to become an overnight millionaire? Ask Varun Chakravarthy, who was handed a staggering contract of Rs 8.4 crore by KXIP, 42 times his base price. The mystery spinner from Tamil Nadu caught attention in the Tamil Nadu Premier League bagging multiple wickets with a jaw-dropping economy rate below 5 runs an over

Since then, he has gone from strength to strength. He also bowled in the nets to KKR batsmen in the last edition of the IPL. Varun was the leading wicket-taker for Tamil Nadu in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, with twenty-two dismissals in nine matches.

He has seven variations: Off break, Legbreak, Googly, Flipper, Topspinner, Carrom ball and the Slider. He is expected to partner Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the side and the duo already looks deadly - at least on paper.

#1 - Kamlesh Nagarkoti - Kolkata Knight Riders

Kamlesh Nagarkoti (L) with Prithvi Shaw

Nagarkoti was roped in by KKR for 3.2 crore in the 2018 IPL auction. However, he developed a back injury just before the tournament and couldn't play a single game. KKR retained him for the next season as well and he looks fit to finally make his IPL debut.

Clocking 150 kmph on a consistent basis, Nagarkoti played a key role in India's Under 19 World Cup triumph. He is also known for clean hitting down the order and will be Dinesh Karthik's go-to man.

“I can’t believe that I didn’t play a game and they still retained me. It shows the trust KKR has in my abilities. I also hope to do well for them when I play,” Nagarkoti said in one of his interviews.

The expectations are high from the Rajasthani speedster. It remains to be seen how well he copes with the pressure. A good season with KKR would open up doors to the senior side as well.