IPL 2025: Uncapped Indian players who stole the limelight this year

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed numerous players who are yet to play an international match making a significant impact, with some players scoring centuries, while others excelled in taking wickets and showcasing their all-round capabilities. Notably, some participants were as young as 14 and 17 years old, generating considerable excitement among cricket enthusiasts, and several players hit record-breaking sixes.

In light of the recent retirements of prominent players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Tests, there may be ample opportunities for many of these young uncapped players from the IPL to secure a position on the Indian team. Here is a list of young players who stole the limelight in this year’s IPL edition.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Rajasthan Royal’s (RR) Vaibhav Suryavanshi was only 13 years old when he was selected during the mega auction last December. By the age of 14, in May, he achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest player to score the fastest IPL century for an Indian, reaching the milestone in just 35 balls, and the second fastest ever, against the Gujarat Titans. His exceptional skill in stroke play and his great performance on such a grand stage captured the admiration of the sport’s legends. RR acquired him for ₹1.1 crore.

In seven matches, Suryavanshi scored 252 runs which includes 24 sixes and 18 fours.

He played in the domestic Ranji Trophy red-ball competition when he was 12 years old and has represented India’s Under-19 against Australia, scoring a 58-ball century. Suryavanshi also made a triple hundred in a local tournament for Bihar.

Priyansh Arya

Punjab Kings’ uncapped player, Priyansh Arya’s moment in IPL came when he played against Chennai Super Kings in Mullanpur, where he scored an impressive century, contributing to his team’s victory. In the 17 matches he played in this edition, the all-rounder scored 475 runs with 25 sixes and 55 fours.

While leading the Delhi U-19 team, the left-hand batsman went on hitting sixes and made a name for himself in the team. Arya excelled with consistent performance, accumulating runs at an astonishing strike rate and breaking records with his sixes. Punjab Kings secured him for ₹1 crore.

Ayush Mhatre

Chennai Super Kings’ Ayush Mhatre is already instilling a wave of admiration among the leading players after he scored 94 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). While CSK lost the game, 17-year-old Mhatre was hailed as a game-changer and has proved that he could be a prominent player in the future. In seven matches, he scored 240 runs with 42 boundaries (11 sixes and 31 fours).

The right-handed batter from Mumbai got his maiden IPL contract when Chennai Super Kings signed him as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad for ₹30 lakhs.

Vipraj Nigam

Delhi Capitals’ (DC) promising leg-spinner, Vipraj Nigam, has made a mark for himself not only through his bowling skills but also as a competent batsman in this year’s IPL edition. Nigam grabbed the attention when his 15-ball 39 helped DC to a record chase of 210 runs from a precarious 113/6. In 14 matches, he has scored 142 runs, including 23 boundaries, and has also claimed 11 wickets.

Nigam, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, was signed for ₹50 lakh.

Ashwani Kumar

Mumbai Indians’ (MI) Ashwani Kumar is a left-arm fast bowler from Punjab, who became a sensation right after his debut match against Kolkata Knight Riders, picking up 4/24 in his three-over spell, thereby playing a crucial role in restricting KKR to 116. He was also named the Player of the Match. In seven matches, Kumar claimed 11 wickets.

MI roped him in for ₹30 lakh.

Sai Kishore

Gujarat Titans’ (GT) uncapped player, Sai Kishore, has been with the team since its inception, but he has played only 15 matches. Considering this season’s efforts, the slow left-arm orthodox spinner from Tamil Nadu has claimed 19 wickets.

He has taken over 350 domestic wickets and has been a consistent player in Indian domestic cricket. GT used their RTM (Right to Match) card to secure him for ₹2 crore.

Nehal Wadhera

Punjab Kings’ Nehal Wadhera solidified his impact on the team by contributing to a strong 84-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Shreyas Iyer against the Mumbai Indians. In the 16 matches he played in this season, Wadhera managed to score 369 runs at a strike rate of 150.64, including 49 boundaries.

The left-handed batter who made his debut IPL match with the Mumbai Indians in 2023 was retained in the same team in 2024, but Punjab Kings swooped in at the IPL 2025 mega-auction and secured him for ₹4.2 crore after a bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans.

Prabhsimran Singh

Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) Prabhsimran Singh made his presence in the team stronger by consistently achieving significant scores, including a 60 runs off 34 balls against Rajasthan Royals and 91 runs off 48 balls against Lucknow Super Giants. The wicketkeeper-batter came into the IPL when PBKS signed him at the 2019 auction and became a core member of the team after he was retained continuously till 2025.

Singh scored 549 runs in 17 matches this season.

Naman Dhir

Mumbai Indians’ Naman Dhir has the best strike rate of MI in the innings, even if he hasn’t scored a half-century this season. Dhir, who is an all-rounder, has the most runs in death overs in the IPL 2025, having managed 252 runs at a stunning strike rate of 182.61. He has scored 13 sixes and 24 fours. He was acquired by MI for ₹5.25 crore.

Vignesh Puthur

Mumbai Indians’ Vignesh Puthur impressed everyone in his debut match, with an instrumental three wickets he claimed in the match. His maiden wicket was of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Puthur who hails from Kerala’s Malappuram, is a left-arm wrist spin bowler, which is a rare breed in cricket. Puthir hadn’t played a single domestic game before featuring in MI’s playing XI.

In five matches, he has claimed six wickets. Even if he has never played for Kerala, it was his stint with Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) that changed his luck, and he eventually went on to catch the eye of MI’s talent scout and was summoned for trials in Mumbai.

He was picked for ₹30 lakh in the auction.

Digvesh Singh

Lucknow Super Giants’ Digvesh Singh Rathi grabbed the attention after he claimed the crucial and his maiden IPL wicket of DC captain Axar Patel. He also took another wicket in the same match. Rathi has taken 14 wickets in thirteen matches at an economy rate of 8.25 per over.

But Rathi breached the IPL Code of Conduct three times this season and was also suspended from a match, having accumulated five demerit points after three separate offenses of the same nature. His now customary “tick in notebook” celebration by which he breached the Code of Conduct also went viral on social media.

The legbreak bowler from Delhi was picked by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹30 lakh.