Indian Premier League is the most followed T20 league because of the involvement of the biggest stars from different cricket playing nations and also the high amount of money associated with it. However, IPL is not always about those big names only. It is also for those who come from the oblivion of domestic cricket and become a household name. It is one of the best platforms to mark your presence in world cricket and a stepping stone for selection in the national team. Every year BCCI presents an Emerging Player Award to one such individual who through his performance has best demonstrated the potential to be a future star of international cricket.

Eligibility criteria for this award:

• Should be younger than 26 years.(This may vary year to year)

• Should have played 5 or less Test matches or 20 or less ODI’s

• Should have played in 25 or less IPL matches (as of the start of the season)

• Should have not previously won the Emerging Player Award.

The award was presented for the “best under-19 player” in 2008 and “best under-23 player” in 2009 and 2010, being called “Under-23 Success of the Tournament”. In 2011 and 2012, the award was known as “Rising Star of the Year”, while, in 2013, it was called “Best Young Player of the Season”. Since 2014, the award has been called the Emerging Player of the Year.

List of Emerging Player Awardees

2008: Shreevats Goswami – He represented Royal Challengers Bangalore and kept wickets for them in four matches. Shreevats scored 82 runs, at an average of 27.33 and a strike rate of 96.47. He scored one half-century (52), along with four dismissals behind the wicket (2 catches and 2 stumpings).

2009: Rohit Sharma – He represented Deccan Chargers and played for them in 16 matches. Rohit scored 362 runs, at an average of 27.84 and a strike rate of 114.92. This included the superb knock of 32*(13) against Kolkata Knight Riders.

2010: Saurabh Tiwary – He was the mainstay of Mumbai Indian’s middle order coming in at two-down. The Jharkhand southpaw scored 419 runs, at an average of 29.92 and a strike rate of 135.59.

2011: Iqbal Abdulla – He was one of the leading spinners in the Kolkata Knight Riders team. In the 15 matches that he played, he scalped 16 wickets at a miserly rate of 6.1 runs per over.

2012: Mandeep Singh – He had a fruitful season with Kings XI Punjab in 2012 wherein he scored 432 runs at an average of 27, striking the balls at 126.31.

2013: Sanju Samson – This attractive strokeplayer from Kerala played for Rajashan Royals. At an average of 25.75, he scored 206 runs from 11 games with strike rate of 115.73. He also kept wickets for RR.

2014: Axar Patel – He was the find of the season for Kings XI Punjab. Bowling at just 6.13 runs per over, he bagged 17 wickets in the 17 games that he played.

2015: Shreyas Iyer – This impressive top-order batsman was picked up by Delhi Daredevils(now Delhi Capitals). Opening the batting he scored 439 runs in 14 games striking at 128.36 and an average of 33.76

2016: Mustafizur Rehman – First non-Indian to bag the award representing Sunrisers Hyderabad. In the 16 matches that he played, he bagged 17 wickets and gave away only 6.9 runs per over.

2017: Basil Thampi – Playing for Gujarat Lions, this Kerala pacer whose yorkers were appreciated by Sachin too, picked up 11 wickets in 12 games at 9.49 economy rate.

2018: Rishabh Pant – His impressive season with Delhi Capitals opened the doors for the national team selection later. This attacking left handed wicket keeper scored at 173.60 strike rate. He aggregated 684 runs with an average of 52.61 in the 14 games. This included 5 half centuries and a scintillating century as well. 2019: Shubman Gill – This talented cricketer who has been knocking at the doors for national team selection, scored 296 runs at an average of 32.88 and strike rate of 124.36 playing for Kolkata Knight Riders.