Emerging Player of the Tournament Award Winners across the 12 Seasons

Emerging Player Award Winners in IPL

One of the major objective behind the inception of the Indian Premier League was to provide a platform for the young Indian players to prove their mettle by performing against international stars. After twelve seasons of the league, it can be said that the objective has been achieved. The likes of Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, have all been fast-tracked into the Indian side after their splendid show in the IPL. Not only youngsters from India, overseas fringe players like Shaun Marsh, Chris Morris and Marcus Stoinis made their international debut after impressing in the IPL. Cometh the 2020 season, many more fringe players from India and overseas are looking to catch the selectors’ eyes for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

As we head towards the thirteenth season of the league, here we look at the winners of the Emerging Player of the year award since the first season:

[Note – Here are the criteria that should be fulfilled to be eligible for the award as of IPL 2019:

2008 – Shreevats Goswami (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Wicket-keeper of the Virat Kohli-led U19 side that won the World Cup, Shreevats Goswami was the winner of the Emerging player of the year award for the inaugural edition of the IPL. Goswami represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, who finished at the seventh spot in the points table. From the 4 matches he played, Goswami aggregated 82 runs, with an average of 27.33 and strike rate of 96.47. He scored a solitary fifty, with a highest score of 52, along with 4 dismissals behind the wicket (2 catches and 2 stumpings)

2009 – Rohit Sharma (Deccan Chargers)

After being one of the only positives in a disastrous campaign of his side in 2008, Rohit Sharma played a key role in the making Deccan Chargers champions in 2009. Already a promising youngster in the international circuit, Rohit scored 362 runs in 16 matches at an average of 27.84 and strike rate of 114.92. Though his returns were comparatively less impressive than in 2008, he played some useful knocks at crucial situations, including a knock of 32*(13) when his side needed 21 off the last over and Rohit hit 26.

2010 – Saurabh Tiwary (Mumbai Indians)

Having made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2008, Saurabh Tiwary entered the 2010 edition with just 7 games under his belt. After two seasons where he did not get many chances, it was finally Tiwary’s time to shine in 2010. Playing for the runner-ups Mumbai Indians, Tiwary stacked up 419 runs from 16 games at an average of 29.92 and strike rate of 135.59. He was the mainstay in the middle order along with Rayudu and had 3 fifties with the highest score of 61.

2011 – Iqbal Abdullah (Kolkata Knight Riders)

With just 4 IPL games spread across 3 seasons, Iqbal Abdullah was bought by KKR for the 2011 season. A part of the U-19 side that won the World Cup, Abdullah finally got his chance to shine under Gautam Gambhir. In 15 games, Iqbal picked 15 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.10 and had best figures of 3/24. Being one of the lead spinners in the side, Iqbal helped his side reach the play-offs; the first time for KKR in four seasons and deservingly received the Emerging player of the year award.

2012 – Mandeep Singh (Kings XI Punjab)

A part of India’s squad in the 2010 U-19 World Cup, Mandeep Singh was bought by KXIP in the 2011 auctions. After having a mediocre season in 2011 where he played just 6 games, Mandeep was brilliant in the 2012 season. In 16 games he aggregated 432 runs at an average of 27.00 and strike rate of 126.31 with a top score of 75. With a more than decent season with the bat, Mandeep won the Emerging player of the year award in the 2012 season.

2013 – Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals)

Playing his debut IPL season for Rajasthan Royals, Sanju Samson got recognition after a stroke-ful 63 against Royal Challengers Bangalore while chasing. Getting his chances once regular wicket-keeper Dishant Yagnik got injured, Samson grabbed the opportunity with both hands. With 206 runs from 11 games at an average of 25.75 and strike rate of 115.73 and some really impressive strokeplay, Samson bagged the Emerging player of the year award in his first IPL stint.

2014 – Axar Patel (Kings XI Punjab)

The all-rounder from Gujarat who later went on to play for India, Axar Patel began his IPL career for Kings XI Punjab in 2014. In a season dominated by the blitz of Maxwell and Miller, Axar was the unsung hero in his side’s road to the finals. The left-arm orthodox spinner picked 17 wickets in 17 games at an impressive economy of 6.13 with the best figures of 3/24. He was amongst the wickets more often than not and was quite economical. With the bat, he scored 62 runs at an average of 10.33 with a best score of 42*.

2015 – Shreyas Iyer (Delhi Daredevils)

A part of the 2014 U-19 World Cup, Shreyas Iyer was picked by Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2015. In what turned out to be a disappointing season for his side, Iyer aggregated 439 runs from 14 games while opening the innings. He averaged 33.76 and had a strike rate of 128.36 and had 4 fifties under his belt with the best score of 83. The Mumbai-based batsman was impressive with his fearless approach and free-flowing batting.

2016 – Mustafizur Rahman (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Troubling India with his accurate off-cutters in his debut series, Mustafizur Rahman was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. The left-arm pacer played a key role in the title-winning campaign for the Sunrisers as he bowled in tandem with Bhuvneswar Kumar at the death. With 17 wickets from 16 games under his belt at an impressive economy of 6.90 and best figures of 3/16, Mustafizur remains the only non-Indian player to get the Emerging player of the year award.

2017 – Basil Thampi (Gujarat Lions)

Catching the eyes of the franchises with his impressive speed and deadly yorkers in the domestic circuit, Basil Thampi was bought by Gujarat Lions in the 2017 auctions. The Kerala pacer with his accurate yorkers was difficult to score against at the death. From 12 games Thampi picked 11 wickets at an economy rate of 9.49 with the best figures of 3/29. Despite having his economy on the higher side Thampi’s pace and the ability to bowl yorkers at will earned him the Emerging player of the year award.

2018 – Rishabh Pant (Delhi Daredevils)

Wicket-keeper of the present day Indian team, Rishabh Pant was retained by Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) ahead of the 2018 auctions. And Pant repaid the faith shown on him by the franchise with a career-defining season. Pant was the lone shining star for the side which finished at the bottom of the points table. From 14 games, Rishabh aggregated 684 runs at an average of 52.61 and strike rate of 173.60, ending as the second highest run-getter of the season. Pant had 5 fifties and 1 hundred under his belt, with a highest score of 128* and was clearly the best among the youngsters.

2019 – Shubman Gill (Kolkata Knight Riders)

A vital cog in the wheel of India’s U19 World Cup win in 2018, Shubman Gill was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2018 auctions. But he did not get much opportunities with the bat as he batted mostly at number six or seven. Cometh the 2019 season, Gill got more chances at the top of the order and utilized his chances by scoring 3 fifties, with a best score of 76. He scored 296 runs from 14 games, at an average of 32.88 and strike rate of 124.36. One of the brightest young prospects in domestic cricket right now, Shubman Gill is the most recent recipient of the Emerging player of the year award.