Indian youngsters are making their presence felt in IPL 2021. With a mega IPL auction set for the next season, a few of these Indian youngsters could see themselves playing for a different team, and in the future, they could be possible IPL captains as well.
Cricwizz takes a look at possible future IPL captains.
1) Ruturaj Gaikwad
Over the past couple of seasons, Ruturaj Gaikwad has shown great maturity, skills, and temperament while opening the batting for CSK. He played a matured knock of 88* against Mumbai Indians when CSK was down and out at 4/24 in 6 overs in the IPL 2021 opener of the second half. His knock helped CSK post a fighting total, and coast to a thrilling win by 20 runs.
Just of 24, he is the youngest among the CSK players to be plying their trade this season. Although he has been playing domestic cricket for the last 5 years, he has found a name only now, thanks to IPL.
And despite no captaincy experience, he could be a potential captain for CSK once Dhoni hangs up his IPL boots. His matured performances gave CSK management the confidence he could be the ideal successor to Dhoni.
2) Devdutt Padikkal
Padikkal could well be an IPL captain next season itself if the RCB management decides to hang over the reins of the team to a young player. Paddikal has become the mainstay of RCB batting over the last few seasons and has shown the maturity to carry the innings through. He has the backing of current captain Virat Kohli as well. With AB de Villiers in the late 30s, Padikkal could be the new RCB skipper unless the management decides to buy another captaincy candidate in the IPL auction ahead of next season.
3) Ishan Kishan
Kishan is a multi-utility player. He can open the batting, keep wickets, or bat down the order as the situation demands. Kishan has captained India in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup final, which the team lost to West Indies. But nevertheless, Kishan packs enough punch as a captain to lead an IPL team if he is handed over the job. He would be a target as a batsman-keeper-captain when the mega IPL auction happens ahead of next season.
4) Prithvi Shaw
There is no denying Prithvi Shaw is a talented top-order batsman, but he has also proved his mettle as a captain when he led India to the 2018 Under-19 World Cup final win over Australia. He is currently in the Delhi Capitals and makes up a great opening pair with Shikhar Dhawan. But if Delhi is unable to retain him for next season, RCB and a team or more could target Prithvi’s leadership skills to lead them, and his batting would just add more firepower to their XI.
5) Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav or SKY has served Mumbai Indians exceptionally well over the last few seasons. He has shown great commitment to Mumbai’s cause and anchors the innings at No 3. He made an explosive limited-overs debut for India. His aggressive style of batting inspires awe, and franchises could possibly see a potential captain in him. If Mumbai is unable to retain him for the next season, other teams, especially RCB, could target him as a top-order batsman-cum-captain.
Cover credits: BCCIofficial
