5 young players to watch in IPL 2026

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a stage for young talent to shine, with many players earning national call-ups after standout performances. The tournament has unearthed and produced multiple jewels, such as Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, amongst others, who have established themselves as mainstays for a. The 19th edition of the IPL features several young talents who could make a significant impact and secure a place in the Indian team.

Here are five young players to watch in IPL 2026:

Vaibhav Suryavanshi (14 Years)

At just 14 years old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest ever centurion in men’s T20 cricket, scoring 101 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur during IPL 2025. His hundred, achieved in 35 deliveries, was the second-fastest in IPL history.

He first made headlines when RR bought him at age 13 for INR 1.1 crore, making him the youngest player ever to secure an IPL deal. In seven games in IPL 2025, he scored 252 runs at a strike rate of 206.55.

Ayush Mhatre (18 Years)

Mumbai teen sensation Ayush Mhatre began playing cricket at age five and made his first-class debut at 17. In just his third game in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, he scored his maiden century.

On December 31, 2024, he scored 181 off 117 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, becoming the youngest player to hit 150+ in a List A match. Unsold in IPL 2025, Mhatre received a mid-tournament call-up for CSK due to an injury to Ruturaj Gaikwad and made a memorable debut, scoring 32 off 15 balls.

Sahil Parakh (18 Years)

Emerging left-handed Sahil Parakh has gained attention as an opener for India’s Under-19 team.

The top-order batter made his international youth debut in 2023 against Bangladesh and scored a match-winning 109 off 75 balls against Australia U-19 on September 22, 2024. Parakh was signed by Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026 at INR 30 Lakh.

Kartik Sharma (19 Years)

Kartik Sharma was acquired by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2026 auction for a whopping INR 14.2 crore. The 19-year-old first rose to prominence with a century on debut in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy and recently represented Rajasthan in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Kartik has played nine List A matches, scoring 445 runs and 334 runs in First-Class matches, at strike rates of 118.03 and 162.92, respectively.

Vihaan Malhotra (19 Years)

Vihaan Malhotra, a left-handed batter from Patiala, is the vice-captain of India’s Under-19 team. He has featured in multi-format youth tours in England and Australia, played in the U-19 Asia Cup in the UAE, and played in a 50-over triangular series at home.

Malhotra was one of the few U-19 players signed in the IPL 2026 auction before the World Cup, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru picking him at his base price of INR 30 Lakh.