IPL (2008-2020): List Of All Emerging Player Of The Year Award Winners

The IPL is undoubtedly a breeding ground for youngsters to express themselves freely and without any regrets. Every year the franchises pick young players, who perform well in domestic cricket and who seem ready to take their game to the next level by rubbing shoulders with stalwarts and facing against the best players.

Over the years, several youngsters have performed well in their inaugural season of IPL, showcasing the mettle to survive the rigours of international cricket. The cash-rich league is a platform from which the Indian selectors are also taking note and whatever the stakes might be, they display the maturity to remain in their radar.

We take a look at the winners of IPL Emerging Player Awards since its inception:

Shreevats Goswami – 2008:

Keeper-batsman Shreevats Goswami was part of Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 and before that was in India’s U-19 squad that lifted the trophy that year. He had a mediocre tournament in 2008, managing 82 runs in four innings with one fifty and a strike rate of 96.47.

However, Goswami showcased plenty of promise in his outings. Despite all the flashy displays, he fell away on the radar as he missed plenty of IPL seasons in between and never played for India. Shreevats Goswami is currently with the SunRisers Hyderabad and played two matches in IPL 2020 without opening his account with the bat.

Rohit Sharma – 2009:

IPL’s most successful captain Rohit Sharma had also won the tournament as a player when he was part of Deccan Chargers. Rohit Sharma was integral in Deccan Chargers’ successful campaign in 2009 in South Africa when they bounced back from the eighth position to lift the title.

The 22-year old managed 362 runs in 15 games at a rather unimpressive strike rate of 114.92. Along with RP Singh, he was one of the few capped Indian players in Adam Gilchrist’s team. At present, Rohit has five IPL titles under his belt as captain, having captained Mumbai Indians to all those since 2013. He is also one of the best batsmen in the Indian side.

Saurabh Tiwary – 2010:

Saurabh Tiwary played only seven games in 2008 and 2009; however, 2010 was his breakthrough year in IPL. Saurabh Tiwary played as a middle-order batsman in Mumbai Indians, crafting several useful knocks. The southpaw was instrumental in the franchise’s enormous progress following a nightmare two years.

In 16 matches, Tiwary smoked 419 runs at 29.93 with three fifties at a strike rate of 135.60. The 21-year old’s impressive performances in the IPL also earned him an India call-up. However, the left-handed batsman has played only three ODIs so far without a substantial score. He is also unlikely to get a game in the near future.

Iqbal Abdulla – 2011:

Left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla enjoyed only one fruitful season in IPL, which was in 2011 when being part of Kolkata Knight Riders. Iqbal Abdulla took 16 wickets in 15 games at 19.06 with an economy rate of 6.10. The Knight Riders also made it to the playoffs for the first time in history that year; however, Abdulla could not get an Indian cap.

Mandeep Singh – 2012:

Punjab batsman Mandeep Singh’s international career has not taken flight despite productive domestic seasons and earning the emerging player’s award in 2012. Mandeep Singh, who was part of Kings XI Punjab that year, mustered 432 runs in 16 games at 27 with a strike rate of 126.32.

The 28-year old is still part of Kings XI Punjab after playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore for a few years. Mandeep played seven fixtures in IPL 2020 and managed one half-century, aggregating 130 runs at 21.67 with a strike rate of 119.27. The franchise will most likely retain him for next year.

Sanju Samson – 2013:

Sanju Samson is not only a clean striker of the ball but also exudes flamboyance in his strokes. Sanju Samson began his career with Rajasthan Royals before moving to Delhi Daredevils and plying his trade again for the original franchise. The Kerala batsman earned the award in 2013.

The right-handed batsman managed 206 runs in 11 games that year at 25.75 with only one fifty. In the following years, the 25-year old kept enhancing his gameplay; however, is yet to enjoy a career-defining IPL edition. Nevertheless, several experts have backed Sanju Samson to cement India’s keeper’s role in limited-overs cricket in a few years from now.

Axar Patel – 2014:

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel came into the limelight in 2014 and impressed straight away. Axar Patel was Kings XI Punjab captain George Bailey’s go-to bowler as he not only controlled the flow of runs but also picked up wickets. For his excellent bowling display, Patel earned the award.

The Gujarat-born spinner plucked 17 wickets in as many games at 23.82 and maintained an economy rate of 6.14. At present, the 26-year old is a part of Delhi Capitals and has an economy rate along the same lines. The all-rounder has also impressed with the bat, crafting some invaluable cameos.

Shreyas Iyer – 2015:

Shreyas Iyer, who is the current captain of Delhi Capitals, began his IPL career with the franchise and was tipped as a special player. Shreyas Iyer proved his mettle that year by hammering 439 runs 14 games that year with 33.77 with four fifties at a reasonably good strike rate of 128.36.

In three years, the 25-year old became the captain of the franchise when Gautam Gambhir left the post. The right-handed batsman has lead the side with grit and gradually received a call-up to the national team as well, cementing his spot. Under Iyer, Delhi reached their first IPL final in 2020.

2016 – Mustafizur Rahman:

Mustafizur Rahman, the Bangladesh seamer was the first overseas player to bag the emerging player’s award in IPL. Mustafizur Rahman made his international debut in 2015, impressing with his subtle and clever variations that helped Bangladesh beat South Africa and India at home in white-ball cricket.

The 25-year old plied his trade for SunRisers Hyderabad in 2016 and performed exceedingly well for them. In 16 matches, the left-arm seamer snapped 17 wickets at 24.76 with an economy rate of 6.90. As far as Rahman’s international goes, he is a first-choice player in all three formats; however, injuries remain a significant barrier.

2017 – Basil Thampi:

Indian fast bowler Basil Thampi impressed in the 2017 season while playing for Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions. While Basil Thampi’s stats were not enormously good in his debut year, he bowled with venom and fantastic speeds. Thampi snapped 11 wickets in 12 games with best figures of 3/29. He could likely play for India in the next two or three years.

2018 – Rishabh Pant:

Rishabh Pant was in the form of his life in IPL 2018, being part of Delhi Capitals and continued his upsurge from the past two seasons of the cash-rich league. Rishabh Pant hammered a mammoth 684 runs in 14 matches with five fifties and a hundred, maintaining a strike rate of 173.60. He also took four catches behind the stumps and affected two stumpings.

At present, the southpaw has hit the nadir as his form has fitness is at an all-time low. Pant’s strike rate has dropped to approximately 110 while he has no half-century in IPL 2020 and fumbles quite a lot behind the stumps. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to see if the 22-year old could conjure any magic in the final.

Shubman Gill – 2019:

Shubman Gill has been one of the best players in the past two years in domestic cricket whether in List A or first-class cricket. Shubman Gill has the knack of picking the gaps efficiently and running swiftly between the wickets. Gill began his IPL career with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018.

However, it was in 2019 that the right-handed batsman began fulfilling the promise. Gill mustered 296 runs in 14 games at 32.89 with three fifties at a reasonably good strike rate of 124.37. It also got him two ODI caps, but he was not able to showcase his talent. Nevertheless, the 20-year old being a quick learner will go on to achieve greater heights.

Devdutt Padikkal – 2020:

Devdutt Padikkal was one of the standout batsmen of Royal Challengers Bangalore in what was a topsy-turvy season for the franchise. Devdutt Padikkal was the constant in their opening pair as the management kept on shifting from Aaron Finch and Josh Philippe to find the youngster a credible opening partner. It did not prevent the 20-year old from showing his class.

The southpaw accumulated 473 runs in 15 games at 31.53 with a strike rate of 124.80. With his elegant and compact technique, he piled up five half-centuries with a best score of 74. Padikkal also displayed his skills as a fielder, making some brilliant saves on the fence and taking a few outstanding catches. In the coming years, he could be one of the leading batsmen in the extravganza.