As IPL 2025 draws to a close, it has once again lived up to its reputation as a launchpad for fresh talent
This season has seen a remarkable surge of teenage prodigies making bold first impressions and thrilling fans across stadiums. The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and all the IPL legends have been in awe of the talent on display this season. Here are five such emerging players who impressed in IPL 2025 and caught the attention of everyone with their breathtaking performances.
1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has consistently been the talk of the town since the Rajasthan Royals picked him in the auction. Everyone was excited for this 14-year-old youngster to perform, and he certainly did, turning up in emphatic fashion by smashing the first ball of his IPL career for a six—a truly dream debut. He then went on to smash the fastest hundred by an Indian player in just 35 balls against the Gujarat Titans at Jaipur, which was also the second-fastest hundred in IPL history.
According to popular IPL betting platforms, Suryavanshi was favored to be the top batter in every Rajasthan Royals game, such was his impact on the tournament. Suryavanshi leads IPL 2025 with a blistering strike rate of 206.55 (min. 100 balls faced), according to official IPL stats, outperforming even seasoned power-hitters like Andre Russell. He finished the season with 252 runs in 7 matches.
2. Ayush Mhatre
Ayush Mhatre had already turned heads in domestic cricket after scoring a maiden first-class century for Mumbai at 17, during the 2024 Ranji Trophy season. He was subsequently roped in as an injury replacement for Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and did not disappoint. He made his debut against the Mumbai Indians in front of his home crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, smashing MI bowlers to all corners of the ground, scoring a quickfire 32 runs in 15 balls.
From there on, he carried CSK’s top order throughout the season. His best knock came against RCB, where he scored 94 runs in 48 balls, which was also his first fifty of his IPL career. Mhatre ended the season with 240 runs in 7 matches, striking at 188.97, and was the 3rd highest run-scorer for CSK this season.
3. Priyansh Arya
When you talk about class, elegance, and fearless batting, only one player comes to mind, Priyansh Arya. This young left-hander has literally played fearless cricket, taking on opponent bowlers from the very beginning in every match. Playing in his first season, Arya has created a huge impact for Punjab Kings and is one of PBKS’s key players. Priyansh Arya dazzled fans with his maiden IPL century 103 explosive runs against CSK earning praise from cricket pundits for his fearless strokeplay and maturity under pressure. Though he hasn’t played many big knocks, he has played handy cameos right throughout the season. So far, he has scored 362 runs in 13 matches and is gearing up for the 2025 IPL playoffs.
4. Digvesh Rathi
The unsung hero of this season for the Lucknow Super Giants, known for his iconic “book” celebration, Digvesh Rathi has had a tremendous season so far. He has been the go-to bowler for Pant in the middle overs to contain runs and also take wickets. Rathi’s subtle change of pace and accuracy in line and length make him one of the hardest bowlers to hit. He has picked up 14 wickets in 12 matches, averaging 28.07 and bowling at an economy of 8.18. He exhibits an aura and fighting spirit that makes him one of the best emerging spinners of this season.
5. Vipraj Nigam
India has lacked leg-spinners who can also contribute significantly with the bat for a long time. Vipraj Nigam, with his leg spin and power hitting, announced himself on the big stage with a bang. He picked up the big wicket of Aiden Markram, on his debut. Then, when Delhi Capitals were down and out in the game chasing 210 runs, Vipraj walked out and scored a quickfire 39 runs in 15 balls to turn the game in the Capitals’ favor. He is also a livewire in the field, having taken 3 catches and saved many runs with his electric fielding near the ropes. Vipraj capped off a breakout season with 142 runs across 8 innings and 11 wickets from 14 matches, making him one of the rare dual-threat players to watch in future editions of the IPL.