As the Indian T20 League 2023 season approaches, cricket enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the emergence of new talent on the field. Among the many young players who have made an impact in the previous editions, there are three candidates who could be contenders for the Emerging Player of the Season award in ITL 2023.
1. Tilak Varma, Mumbai
Tilak Verma, a left-handed opening batsman from Andhra Pradesh, has been impressive in domestic cricket. He made his debut for Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2021 and has since become a regular member of the team.
Verma also played for Mumbai in the ITL 2022 season, where he showed glimpses of his talent with his stroke-play and ability to rotate the strike. He scored 397 runs in 14 matches at an average of 36.07 and a strike rate of 131.04. Verma’s solid technique and aggressive approach make him a promising prospect for ITL 2023.
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajasthan
Yashashvi Jaiswal, a left-handed top-order batsman from Mumbai, made his debut for Rajasthan in ITL 2022. He had an impressive outing, scoring 258 runs in 10 matches at an average of 25.80 and a strike rate of 132.99.
So far he has made 601 runs in 24 ITL matches with a strike rate of 135.67. With the beginning of ITL 2023 with a half century (54) Jaiswal is set up to take the next big leap in Indian cricket.
3. Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Chennai
Rajvardhan Hangargekar, a right-arm medium-fast bowler from Maharashtra, has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket. He made his debut for Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2020 and has since played in various domestic tournaments.
Hangargekar’s impressive performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022 earned him a contract with the Chennai Franchise in ITL 2023. He has a good seam position, hits the right length consistently, and can swing the ball both ways. Hangargekar’s ability to pick up wickets at crucial moments makes him a valuable asset for any team.
Having taken three wickets in his first match itself, Hangargkar is all set to break into the big stage.