5 Indian players who could become household names after this IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a synonym for glamour in the cricketing world. The towering sixes, amazing boundary catches and last ball victories all lead to the excitement of this amazing tournament.The IPL has been fortunate to witness some of the best players in the world in action. From Sachin Tendulkar to Ricky Pointing, Dale Steyn to Lasith Malinga, Jacques Kallis to Muralitharan, all have been a part of this tournament. The list of star players that are or have ever been a part of the IPL is endless.Apart from these already world class star players, there are also some of the younger and lesser known players that come out of shadows not only to perform at the top level but also to make a name for themselves. Every year, the IPL has seen some standout performers and this year will be no different. We will see young players who will surprise the fans and the teams alike by some mesmerizing performances on the field.Here, we take a look at the young Indian prospects who can not only become a household name after this IPL but also make an entry into the national team in the near future.

#1 Deepak Hooda

It can be premature to rate Deepak Hooda as India’s next big all-rounder, but he has recently proven his talent both with the bat and the ball.

In the first three matches that he has played for the Rajasthan Royals, Hooda has an admirable average of 32.33 runs which he has scored at a strike rate of over 220. In the bowling department too, he has been decent. With a miserly economy rate of 4.60 in the T20 version, his efforts can only be appreciated.

Hooda is a complete all-round package. He was one of India’s top performers in the Under-19 World Cup last year where he was not only the second highest run-getter but also the second highest wicket-taker.

This IPL season has been like a dream start for Hooda. We can only hope that he continues to deliver such performances. He certainly has a very bright future ahead of him.

#2 Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal has always been rated as a batsman with huge promise. It’s no surprise, then, that the 24-year-old right-hander is finally fulfilling his potential and earning plaudits from greats like Yuvraj Singh along the way.

Although a quintessential modern-day batsman with a penchant for hitting the ball a long way, he is also technically sound and made the breakthrough into Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy side last season. He has made 672 runs in his IPL career till date at a strike rate of over 130 runs per 100 balls.

It has often been said that he has been a very inconsistent player. He has failed to build on the starts that he gets. All he needs is to stay calm during pressure.

A little more patience can do wonders to his game and he could become one of the stars of this season for Delhi Daredevils.

#3 Anureet Singh

If Anureet Singh carries on the way he has been performing recently, an India call-up in the near future might not be out of the question. The right-arm medium pacer from Kings XI Punjab has set the IPL stage on fire in the early games this season.

He has been a consistent bowler so far having taken 7 wickets in the opening three games. He plays for Railways in the Ranji Trophy and was the second highest wicket-taker in the 2013-14 season with 44 wickets.

There is no denying the fact, however, that he still has a lot of scope to improve as a bowler. He has been giving away runs a bit too easily and this is an area of his game on which he needs to work. He is now 27 years old and this IPL could be one of his last chances to prove his worth.

#4 KC Cariappa

Konganda Charamanna Cariappa is a 21-year-old legspinner from Coorg in Karnataka. The unknown mystery spinner who was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowls with an orthodox round-arm action.

Questions were raised when KKR bought him for Rs 2.4 crore, a sum 24 times his base value.

The young spinner has drawn comparisons from Sunil Narine recently. The fact that he is yet to play a first-class match makes him an even more exciting prospect.

The interesting thing about Cariappa’s bowling is that he bowls with an unconventional three-finger grip. He had earlier played for Bijapur Bulls in the Karnataka Premier League.

One would certainly need to look at him from close quarters before drawing any conclusions about the young bowler. This IPL could prove out to be a turning point in the career of this unique and mysterious bowler.

#5 Yuzvendra Chahal

The 24-year-old leg spinner from Haryana plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL. He has come on by leaps and bounds in the last couple of seasons and could have a chance of being part of the Indian set-up sooner rather than later.

Once a Mumbai Indians reject, Yuzvendra Chahal has now made himself an integral part of RCB’s squad. He has been one of the most economical bowlers for RCB. Even when he is not taking wickets, he could be relied upon to get some quiet overs in and create pressure on the batsmen.