New Delhi, March 26 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre made a big impact in their debut IPL season last year, and there will be several others who aim to justify the tournament's tagline, "Where Talent Meets Opportunity," in the upcoming edition.
Prashant Veer (Chennai Super Kings):
There are many cricketers in India who bowl slow left-arm orthodox and bat left-handed. However, none of them have faced the challenge of filling the shoes of Ravindra Jadeja like the 20-year-old Prashant Veer, who hails from Amethi.
Chennai Super Kings have invested heavily in youth, and they signed Veer for a bid of Rs 14.20 crore, based on his potential and the scouts' assessment after trials.
The 20-year-old has played nine matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), with an economy rate of 6.45 and a batting strike rate of over 167, making him a valuable asset for Chennai Super Kings this season.
Auqib Nabi (Delhi Capitals):
At 29, Nabi is not a young player, but he has eight years of domestic cricket experience. DC fans expect something special from him in his IPL debut.
Nabi had a stellar Ranji season, claiming over 60 wickets and helping Jammu and Kashmir win the trophy. The 'Baramullah Express's' match temperament and potential for the Indian team will be closely watched this year.
He has played 34 T20 games for J&K in SMAT, with an economy rate of 7.74, which is good for someone who primarily bowls in Powerplays.
His average speed is in the early 130s, which could be a concern for international batters.
Ashok Sharma (Gujarat Titans):
Ashok, one of India's fastest young bowlers, has been part of the Rajasthan Royals setup but hasn't played in the IPL yet.
It is not guaranteed that the 23-year-old will get a chance this season with GT, especially with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna being key players.
However, Ashok could be considered by head coach Ashish Nehra, especially after clocking 150 kmph at this year's SMAT.
Tejasvi Dahiya (Kolkata Knight Riders):
Kolkata Knight Riders' coach Abhishek Nayar's protege, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, is being prepared as a batter-keeper, as he has already played two IPL seasons.
The 23-year-old Dahiya, from Delhi, is a talented player who, if given the opportunity, could deliver in the long run. He scored a half-century for Delhi in the last SMAT, and a strike rate of 168 makes him a good option for the middle order.
Naman Tiwari (Lucknow Super Giants):
Good left-arm pacers are rare in India, and 2024 U-19 World Cupper Naman Tiwari has impressed everyone during trials.
The 20-year-old regularly bowls above 140 kmph, had a good performance in the 2024 UP T20 league for Noida Kings, and could be a valuable backup option.
Tiwari has the ability to straighten deliveries for right-handed batters.
Allah Ghazanfar (Mumbai Indians):
If there is one bowler IPL fans have been eagerly waiting to see, it is 20-year-old Ghazanfar, the latest from the stable of mystery spinners produced by Afghanistan.
Ghazanfar was supposed to play for KKR last season but opted out. He has done well for MI Emirates, and Mahela Jayawardene may consider using him as one of the four overseas options this season.
Mitchell Owen (Punjab Kings):
Last season, Owen got only two balls in a single game, but the Tasmanian is coming off a strong reputation built with the Hobart Hurricanes, with a strike rate of 187 over 36 Big Bash League games and a strike rate of over 180 in 75 career T20 games.
The 24-year-old can deliver powerful shots, and he can also bowl a couple of overs of medium pace.
Ravi Singh (Rajasthan Royals):
The 24-year-old Railwayman scored 218 runs for his side with a strike rate of 173 in SMAT last year.
A notable highlight was a 38-ball-68 in a successful chase against Vidarbha, which involved IPL players Yash Thakur, Harsh Dubey, and Darshan Nalkande. This earned him a Rs 95 lakh deal with RR, and his progress this season will be closely watched.
Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bangalore):
The 22-year-old scored a half-century in one of the two games he played last season, but this time, Bethell is coming into the IPL with a superb century in the T20 World Cup semi-final against India at the Wankhede.
With Jitesh Sharma, he and Bethell could be a nightmare for opposition teams on Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Shivang Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad):
The 23-year-old from Madhya Pradesh bowls left-arm wrist spin, making him a rare commodity. Unlike Kuldeep, who has an angular run-up, Shivang has a more orthodox straight run-up.
He is also a handy lower-order batter, and it remains to be seen if SRH head coach Daniel Vettori can find a slot for him.