IPL 2021: 5 Players Who Can Win The Emerging Player Award Of The Season

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not only about the superstars of the game like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, and others showcasing their outrageous skills and locking horns with each other.

It is also about the young upcoming players grabbing the opportunity and showcasing their talent on the biggest stage of them all.

And, every year we saw a plethora of youngsters do exactly that. And, the IPL rewards them with the ‘Emerging Player’ award at the end of every season.

Before IPL 2021 got suspended due to Covid, we saw a number of youngsters shine on the biggest stage against the big boys.

With the IPL set to resume in the UAE in September, it will be interesting to see whether the likes of Chetan Sakariya, Avesh Khan will continue their good work or not.

On that note, here’s a look at 5 players who can win the Emerging Player Award of the Season In IPL 2021:

Lalit Yadav (Delhi Capitals)

Lalit Yadav chipped in with both bat and ball in whatever opportunities he got before IPL 2021 got suspended due to Covid.

While he played a mature knock of 22* to help Delhi Capitals nail down Mumbai Indians’ target of 137, he bowled a match-winning spell against the Kolkata Knight Riders, registering figures of 2/13 in three overs which included the crucial scalp of Eoin Morgan.

In 5 games, Yadav scored 54 runs besides claiming 3 wickets at 22.00. It will be interesting to see if he can carry his form in the UAE.

Ravi Bishnoi (Punjab Kings)

Ravi Bishnoi missed the first four games of Punjab Kings in their IPL 2021 campaign for reasons best known to the team management but when he did come back, he picked up from where he had left in the UAE in his debut season in 2020.

In four games, Bishnoi claimed 4 wickets at an average of 24.75 and an economy rate of 6.18 with his best figures of 2/17 (4) coming against Virat Kohli’s RCB.

Bishnoi was brilliant during his maiden season which was played in the UAE last year. In 14 games, he claimed 12 wickets, and, so, with significant experience of the conditions, one can expect the leg-spinner to put up another stellar show later this year.

Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)

Ruturaj Gaikwad had the worst possible start to his IPL career last year. The talented opening batsman missed the first few games due to Covid and when he did make a return, it turned out to be a nightmare.

Gaikwad was dropped for a few games before he was integrated back into the team at the backend of the season.

The stylish batsman proceeded to redeem himself as he smashed three high-quality half-centuries to cap off the season.

Gaikwad had a similarly poor start this year as he managed scores of 5,5, 10 in his first three outings.

But, CSK continued to back the 24-year-old, and it paid off as Gaikwad once again showcased his precocious talent to the hilt in the following games.

The right-hander backed it up with scores of 64(42), 33(25), 75 (44), and with him having found success in the UAE at the backend of the 2020 season, one can expect Gaikwad to emulate his returns of last year and, hopefully, claim the ‘Emerging Player of the Season award.

Chetan Sakariya (Rajasthan Royals)

Chetan Sakariya has had a roller-coaster in 2021 thus far. Excruciating lows have followed unprecedented highs.

In January, Sakariya lost his brother, who committed suicide. Three weeks later, the left-hander grabbed a life-changing IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals worth Rs 1.2 crore.

Then came the 2021 season where the young left-arm seamer turned heads with his precocious skills, nerves of steel as he delivered for his team in different situations of the match including death overs, and brilliant fielding.

Sakariya claimed a total of 7 wickets in as many games at an average of 31.71 which included the wickets of MS Dhoni, KL Rahul, Suresh Raina.

Chetan registered his best figures in his debut game against PBSK where he gave away just 31 runs for his 3 wickets in four overs in a 200+ game.

He then backed it up with another three-wicket-haul against CSK.

Soon after the IPL got suspended, Chetan lost his father due to Covid. With the second leg of IPL 2021 set to be moved to the UAE, the left-handed seamer will hope to emulate his exploits of the first leg and hopefully grab the ‘Emerging Player’ award as a tribute to his father.

Avesh Khan (Delhi Capitals)

Avesh Khan is a perfect example of how one should make the most of the opportunity when it presents itself.

With Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje not available for the first few games of the recently suspended season, Khan was blooded into the playing 11 and the Madhya Pradesh seamer made the most of his chances as he dished out one tough performance after another.

The best thing about Avesh Khan’s performance in the first leg of the IPL was that he relished in whatever role he was given by the Capitals. Whether it was the middle-overs or the death, Khan, with his multitude of variations thrived in almost every game.

In 8 games, Avesh Khan claimed 14 wickets- second-most- at an average of 16.50 and an economy rate of 7.60 which included wickets of the likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni.

Barring an unprecedented blip in form, Avesh Khan should win the Emerging Players award at the end of the season.

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