IPL 8: Young Indian Players who Promise to Make a Mark
While a lot of the players come into the IPL after the World Cup, this is also a tournament that's a great platform for youngsters to impress their national selectors. Coming off strong domestic performances, there are some Indian players who will be hoping to make a mark in this edition of the competition.
Karun Nair - Rajasthan Royals
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In last season's Ranji Trophy, Karun Nair made hundreds in the quarter-final, semifinal and the final. In fact it was his winning six that helped Karnataka end their 15-year-wait for a Ranji title. This year he followed it up with a triple ton in the Ranji final against Tamil Nadu, making him one of the most exciting young domestic players to watch out for in IPL 2015. (KKR are the Best Team: Dean Jones)
The 23-year-old has just two fifties for the Rajasthan Royals, but this year his team will be expecting a ton of runs from the talented right handed opener.
KC Cariappa - Kolkata Knight Riders
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When Kolkata Knight Riders spent Rs 2.4 crore on an unknown spinner, whose base price was Rs 10 lakh, it puzzled everyone. A mystery spinner as he likes to be called, KC Cariappa was noticed by KKR's video analyst in the Karnataka Premier League. (Know Your Team: Kings XI Punjab)
Primarily a leg spinner by craft, the 20-year-old Coorgi also has the ability to bowl off-spin, which makes him a difficult proposition for batsmen.
Kuldeep Yadav - Kolkata Knight Riders
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Given their tradition of picking up 'mystery' spinners, it is not a surprise that the Kolkata Knight Riders have a china-man bowler Kuldeep Yadav in their squad. (Know Your Team: Delhi Daredevils)
The Kanpur boy in fact, started as a fast bowler, but was forced to transform into a spinner by his coach. The 20-year-old hasn't made his IPL debut even though he's been a part of Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.
He did play in the Champions League T20, where an impressive economy rate saw him earn an India call up for the ODIs versus West Indies last year.
KL Rahul - Sunrisers Hyderabad
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With a solid Ranji Trophy season for Karnataka in 2014 that saw him score runs galore - including a hundred in the final - KL Rahul was in demand during the auction in Bengaluru this year.
It was the Sunrisers Hyderabad who eventually picked him up for Rs 1 crore.
Twin centuries in last year's Duleep Trophy final in fact earned Rahul a Test call up. After a forgettable debut in Melbourne, he made an impressive 110 in his 2nd Test in Sydney.
Sarfaraz Khan - Royal Challengers Bangalore
In 2009, a 12-year-old schoolboy, Sarfaraz Khan broke the record for the highest score in Mumbai's Harris Shield inter-school tournament, he made 439, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record of 346.
At 17, Sarfaraz was the youngest player to enter the auctions this year, and was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 50 lakh.
The Mumbaikar, who made his Ranji debut last season, is going to use his first pay cheque to buy a car for his father, who is also his coach. He doesn't want to show off, Sarfaraz says. His father had met with a bike accident in 2010. The car is to ensure that he can travel without hassles.