IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra picks top 5 youngsters of the season

The Indian Premier League has been instrumental in providing a platform for young talents over the years now. This season too, there have been certain youngsters who have exuded their sheer flair in the tournament. The former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has thus named his top five young Indian cricketers in the IPL 2021.

The first one to make it to Chopra’s list was CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. The batter has been crucial for Chennai in this IPL. He bagged the orange cap having scored 635 runs at an impressive average of 45.3. Chopra opened up on Gaikwad’s temperament and termed him as India’s future.

“Ruturaj has been absolutely sensational and for multiple reasons. The first thing that stood out for me was his temperament. His reaction while under pressure has been solid. He has batted with maturity throughout the season. What separates him from the rest is that he knows when to use his big-hitting. A man for all reasons and a man for all seasons. He is CSK’s present, and will be India’s future,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Aakash Chopra on the youngsters that impressed him this season

The Purple cap winner Harshal Patel was Chopra’s second choice. He has been exceptional for RCB in this season of the IPL. The pacer scalped 32 wickets in IPL 2021 and the former India cricketer thus feels that Patel was effective everywhere he played. DC’s pacer Avesh Khan who impressed everybody with his raw pace was the next on his list.

Punjab Kings’ leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi was Chopra’s fourth choice. Bishnoi, unfortunately, did not play many matches for Punjab Kings in this edition of the IPL. However, whenever he got the opportunity, the spinner chimed in with crucial wickets.

KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer was the final one on his list. Iyer did not feature in the Indian leg of the IPL. But in the second half of the tournament, he brought his attacking and dominating game to the fore, leading KKR to victory on most occasions.

“He came as a revelation of all sorts for the franchise. He isn’t bothered against quick bowling. The way he has played his shots, especially on-the-rise shots, was magnificent. Initially, I thought that he would struggle against swing bowling, but the way he has batted was exceptional. He also showed maturity while playing in Sharjah. All in all, he was superb,” Chopra added.