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 went on six-hitting spree.

There may be ample opportunities for many of these young uncapped players from the IPL to stake their claim for a place in the Indian team. Here is a list of young players who stole the limelight in this year’s IPL.

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 an IPL century, reaching the milestone in just 35 balls, and the second fastest ever, against the Gujarat Titans. His exceptional skill in strokeplay 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 the Indian Under-19 tean 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 hour of glory came 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 and hit 25 sixes and 55 fours.

While leading the Delhi U-19 team, the left-hander made a name for himself, thanks to his six-hitting abilities. 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 hogged limelight after he scored 94 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 one for 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 CSK signed him as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad for ₹30 lakh.

Vipraj Nigam

Delhi Capitals’ (DC) leg-spinning all-rounder, 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. 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 signed him for ₹30 lakh.

Sai Kishore

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

The Tamil Nadu Ranji captain has been a consistent player on the domestic circuit with over 350 wickets to his credit. GT used their RTM (Right to Match) card to secure him for ₹2 crore.

Nehal Wadhera

Punjab Kings’ Nehal Wadhera was involved in a match-turning 84-run partnership for the fourth wicket with skipper Shreyas Iyer in the Qualifier 2 against 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 southpaw made who his debut IPL match with the Mumbai Indians in 2023 was retained in the same team in 2024, but Punjab Kings swooped in on him at the IPL 2025 mega-auction and secured him for ₹4.2 crore after a bidding war with CSK and GT.

Prabhsimran Singh

Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) Prabhsimran Singh made his presence in the team stronger by consistently notching up significant scores, including 60 off 34 balls against Rajasthan Royals and 91 off 48 balls against Lucknow Super Giants. The wicketkeeper-batter made his entry 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.

Prabhsimran scored 549 runs in 17 matches this season.

Naman Dhir

Naman Dhir has the second best strike rate among the Mumbai Indians batters 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 hit scored 13 sixes and 24 fours. He was acquired by MI for ₹5.25 crore.

Vignesh Puthur

Mumbai Indians’ Vignesh Puthur impressed everyone on his debut, with a three-wicket haul against CSK. His maiden wicket was of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Vignesh, who hails from Kerala’s Malappuram, is a left-arm wrist-spinner, which is a rare breed in cricket. He hadn’t played a single domestic game before featuring in MI’s playing XI.

In five matches, he claimed six wickets before being ruled out with an injury. 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 Rathi

Lucknow Super Giants’ Digvesh Rathi grabbed the attention after he snared DC captain Axar Patel as his maiden IPL wicket. He also took another wicket in the same match. Rathi scalped 14 in 13 matches at an economy rate of 8.25 .

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 leg-break bowler from Delhi was picked by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹30 lakh.