Someone like Rinku Singh etched his name in the history of IPL by smashing back-to-back five sixes on the final five balls of the match to hand his team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) an improbable win over defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT).
Yashasvi Jaiswal, on the other hand, at just 21 years of age became the first uncapped Indian player to score over 600 runs in a single IPL edition. Rinku and Yashasvi showcased the face of ‘New India’ everyone keeps talking about.
With just four playoff matches left in the IPL 2023, let’s have a look at five uncapped players who deserve India call-up through their performances in the league.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: The 21-year-old batting sensation now holds the record for most runs by an uncapped player in an IPL season. Jaiswal finished the league stage with 625 runs in 14 matches at an average of 48.07 and a strike rate of 163.61.
The southpaw hit five fifties and one hundred. On one occasion, he finished with 98 unbeaten runs against KKR. He looked set to cross the 700-run mark but unfortunately RR failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Many former cricketers including Suresh Raina have backed Jaiswal to feature in the upcoming 50-over World Cup for India.
Rinku Singh: The KKR batter has been around for a while but IPL 2023 saw his transformation from a player to a superstar. Winning matches with fours and sixes have made him a household name.
What stood out was Rinku’s consistency and ability to soak intense pressure time and again. In the league stage, he scored 474 runs in 14 matches at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.52. Opposition fear Rinku like they once feared his teammate Andre Russell.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri among many have backed Rinku to make India debut at the earliest.
Tilak Varma: One more player backed by Shastri and others to don the India blue is Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Tilak Varma. The Hyderabad-born southpaw has the flair of Yuvraj Singh in his batting.
At just 20 years of age, Tilak has shown nerves of steel and performed in crunch situations for the five-time champions. Many believe that he could for long carry the load of Indian middle order in the future.
“For someone of his age, coming out and playing the way he is, he’s got a long way to go, and we will see him play for some different teams,” Rohit Sharma said about Varma earlier this season.
Jitesh Sharma: Punjab Kings (PBKS) wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma finished the IPL 2023 season as the third-highest run-scorer for his team. The right-hander scored 309 runs in 14 matches at an average of 23.76 and a whopping strike rate of 156.06.
His fearless strokeplay in crunch grabbed eyeballs including that of Kevin Pietersen who thinks the Vidarbha cricketer could be injured Rishabh Pant’s ideal replacement for the time being.
Jitesh is 29 and the age is not on his side but sport has seen late bloomers like Michael Hussey and Suryakumar Yadav who made a name for themselves with hard work and determination.
Mohsin Khan: The cricketer for long has been touted as India probable. The 24-year-old Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) left-arm pacer has fought his way back from a career-threatening injury and impressed once again.
In the match against Mumbai Indians (MI), he defended 11 runs in the final over with Cameron Green and Tim David on the crease. That over alone showed that Mohsin has got tremendous talent accompanied with a gift of tackling pressure.
“I’m impressed by the composure and patience shown by Mohsin Khan in that last over. Not an easy task even for an experienced bowler. Saw some really good performances from him in the last season as well. Definitely a one for the future,” RR’s fast bowling coach Lasith Malinga tweeted recently.
Note: All-rounder SRH all-rounder Abhishek Sharma and batter Abdu Samad have also portrayed themselves as stronger contenders to join Team India in the near future.
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