The festival of cricket, the IPL 2022 season has almost come to a closure. We have come to the business end of the tournament. The performances of all the teams were great and we witnessed fresher faces on the field as well. The motto of the IPL was to promote young talent and it has certainly justified that. There have been many finds of this season. So, who are the 5 probables to win the IPL 2022 emerging player of the season award? Here is a quick look:
5) Ayush Badoni plays for LSG in IPL 2022:
The start of the season saw the emergence of a sensation from Lucknow named Ayush Badoni. This short lad from Delhi had a lot to prove when he came to the IPL. He has also been coached by Rahul Dravid in age-group cricket. He has played U-19 cricket for India. This young man was scouted by Gautam Gambhir. What a gem he is! His runs might be very less but they are impactful. The scores can be around 30 or 20 or a 25 but they have come in 7, 8, or 12 balls. Now that gives a lot of emphasis on the finishing prowess that Aayush has. He can play the 360-degree game. Badoni was called BABY AB even before Dewald Brevis got that title! He bats for LSG at a strike rate of 160!
4) Dewald Brevis played for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022:
“BABY AB”, as he is called by the cricket community was picked by the Mumbai Indians at the IPL 2022 Mega Auction for 3 Crores. The amount spent was huge but it seems that the team has reaped a lot of benefit from it. Similar to Aayush, Dewald’s innings have also been very short but very impactful. He hit Rahul Chahar one of India’s top spinners for 29 runs in an over with 4 consecutive sixes. That event has certainly assured that this kid has a bright future if he holds his head on his shoulder. Dewald is looking to be the solid number 3 batter for Mumbai Indians. He has a good sense of the game and also has the strokes required to score big.
3) Abhishek Sharma played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2022:
Abhishek Sharma came to the IPL way back in 2019. He was initially playing for the Delhi Capitals but later on shifted to the Sunrisers. The Sunrisers spent a whopping 6.2 Crores to get him and that amount has been justified by Abhishek. He has carried the Sunrisers single-handedly at times. He has been very crisp at the beginning of the innings. Sharma either punishes or perishes. He has dealt with the slow strike rate and poor form of his batting partner Kane Williamson. He has great stroke playing ability. Abhishek belongs to the batch of elite players. He won the U-19 world cup alongside Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, and Ishan Porel. He has scored 350+ runs in this IPL season and they have come at a strike rate of above 140!
2) N Tilak Varma:
One of the strongest contenders for the prize this time around is N Tilak Varma. Tilak Varma had the responsibility of filling the shoes of Suryakumar Yadav in his absence and Tilak did that well. His innings against the Rajasthan Royals spoke volumes of his talent. As I have previously commented, he dared to reverse sweep Ravi Ashwin for a six! Being a left-hander gives him an added advantage. He has been exceptionally handling all the situations for the Mumbai Indians. After the star-studded squad of IPL 2021 was shuffled Mumbai still managed to find a world-class gem. Tilak was bought for around 2 Crore Indian rupees and his performance has very well justified that.
1) Umran Malik:
Pace sensation Umran Malik is a top contender for this title. He has been clocking unreal speeds this season. He is beating international batters by pace. Under the guidance of Dale Steyn, his bowling is looking more lethal. Every game that Umran has played he has managed to bag the “Swiggy fastest delivery of the match”. This speaks a lot about the consistency that this lad has.
Coming from the small town of Jammu in India, Umran has already inspired many young boys. He has a smooth run-up and a smooth jump too! His bowling action produces a good rhythm and that is exactly why he manages to generate pace. Umran was one of the 3 uncapped players retained by all of the teams after the IPL 2021 season. He is paid 4 Crore Indian Rupees. Umran has taken 18 wickets already this season and has proven to be value for money.
To read more such articles go to ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Top 5 Players to Watch Out For.
To know more go to the official website of the IPL.