IPL 2024: Potential breakout stars in 2024

The 2024 Indian Premier League blasts off on 22nd March, with two months of high-octane, high-pressure, high-class T20 action to look forward to as Chennai Super Kings defend their title.

Ten teams featuring some of the finest short-format cricketers in the game are sure to lay on a feast, but who will be the breakout stars of IPL 2024, the youngsters ready to showcase their skills in the richest league in the sport?
 

Sameer Rizvi (Chennai Super Kings)

One of the biggest bidding wars of the IPL auction was around Sameer Rizvi, a 20-year-old destructive middle-order batter.

It was Chennai who won that particular battle, snaring Rizvi for around £850,000, remarkable given that he had played just 24 times for the senior Uttar Pradesh team at the turn of the year.

He was 16 when he made his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, though it was during last year's UP T20 League where he really caught the attention of the IPL franchises.

The youngster piled up 455 runs in nine innings, smashed the tournament record for most sixes and blazed one hundred in just 47 balls.

Suddenly Rizvi became a box-office draw and Chennai duly made him the most expensive uncapped player of the 2024 auction.

Harry Brook (Delhi Capitals)

Harry Brook might be a household name in England after some of his Bazball feats over the past couple of years, but the IPL has definitely yet to see the best of him.

The 24-year-old Yorkshireman only made his international debut in January 2022 and his Test debut in September of that year.

By the end of a whirlwind year, however, the big-hitting middle-order batter had helped England win the T20 World Cup and was suddenly very firmly on the IPL radar.

Sunrisers Hyderabad forked out £1.3m for his services, but the big-money gamble didn't pay off.

One glittering 55-ball century against Kolkata Knight Riders was the highlight, with criticism of Indian cricket fans after that sensational knock won him few friends.

Sunrisers declined to renew his contract, but Delhi Capitals didn't need a second invitation to tie down one of the most explosive hitters in the game who has points to prove.

Rachin Ravindra (Chennai Super Kings)

New Zealand may not have won the 2023 World Cup, but they unearthed one of the stars of the tournament in Rachin Ravindra.

The powerhouse left-hander, a largely unknown quantity outside his native New Zealand arriving in India, smashed 578 runs including three centuries and two 50s.

He only found his way on to the plane because of an injury to Michael Bracewell and was seen by most in the Kiwi camp as a spin bowling all-rounder.

He wouldn't have started the opening game against England had Kane Williamson not been injured, but was asked to bat at No.3, thrashed an unbeaten 123 and never looked back.

Those feats didn't go unnoticed among the IPL owners, with the Super Kings happy to write a cheque for around £1.8m for the 24-year-old's services.

Kumar Kushagra (Delhi Capitals)

Teenage wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra admitted he had to stop watching as his price continued to rise and rise in the IPL auction, eventually settling at £750,000 which Delhi Capitals were prepared to hand over.

That was a lot of money for an untested 19-year-old, though one who has been winning plenty of plaudits and praise.

Just a couple of weeks after the auction he was called up by India A to play England Lions and scored his second first-class century a day after the summons.

Kushagra looks like a future India wicket-keeper who might just accelerate that selection process by starring for the Capitals in his first IPL season.

Robin Minz (Gujarat Titans)

Carrying the label of "Jharkhand's Chris Gayle" and a hefty auction price tag, 21-year-old Robin Minz is under pressure from the off as he prepares for his IPL debut.

Gujarat Titans splashed out around £350,000 and fended off interest from Chennai and Mumbai to attract the big-hitting left-hander.

Comparisons with Gayle are obvious, although Minz would rather become the "next MS Dhoni", the cricketing hero of Jharkhand state.

Shy and modest but richly talented, it will be interesting to see how many opportunities Minz will get, but Dhoni and many others are expecting a huge future for the youngster.