The 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) exceeded expectations, with the home and away format, along with the impact player rule, making it one of the most interesting seasons ever.
Apart from entertaining matches and a neck-and-neck struggle for playoff berths, the competition has done its normal job of boosting youngsters
Yashasvi Jaiswal, 21, and Shubman Gill, 23, are the best Indian run scorers thus far in the competition. Aside from the openers, players such as Rinku Singh, Akash Singh, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmed, and others have made key contributions.
Praise and applause appear to be a big confidence booster for such young people. The applause of fans and even pundits are easier to come by when compared to the earnest praise by a fellow peer, and more so from someone who is at the top of their field.
Virat Kohli, the ace batter, is never hesitant about showing his enthusiasm for the next generation of players, and he uses social media and interviews to do so. The improved performances of young players have forced the former India captain to do it more frequently than previously, which he does not mind.
On that point, here are three IPL rookies who have recently received appreciation from Virat Kohli.
1) Yashasvi Jaiswal – Rajasthan Royals
Yashasvi Jaiswal is having a breakout season in this year’s IPL. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter now has the fastest IPL fifty of all time (13 balls), and he went on to make an unbeaten 98 in the Royals’ nine-wicket triumph against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Thursday, May 11.
The fans went berserk at Eden Gardens, even the home fans, who had no choice but to applaud the young genius. While the pundits praised him, the left-handed batter earned special recognition from Virat Kohli.
During the innings, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter posted a story on his Instagram account with the caption:
Wow this is some of the best batting I’ve seen in a while. What a talent.”
during a post-match chat with Yuzvendra Chahal, He was informed of Kohli’s comments, which caused him to fold his hands and look up. That gesture says volumes about how much his admiration meant to the young athletes.
2) Rinku Singh – Kolkata Knight Riders
In a challenging season, the KKR youngster has been brilliant for his franchise, providing some steadiness in the middle order and demonstrating his finishing skills. His exploits versus the Gujarat Titans (GT) were one of the tournament’s most talked-about moments.
Rinku Singh hit five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal in his final over to help KKR pull a victory from the jaws of defeat. The left-handed hitter was showered with praise during the incredible and maybe once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, and Virat Kohli was no exception.
Kohli showered admiration on Rinku’s remarkable performance while also reflecting on the recent growth of youngsters:
“What the youngsters are doing today is amazing to see. Look at this IPL, I couldn’t even think of doing stuff what these young guys are doing. Just the other night, Rinku Singh hits 5 Sixes in last 5 balls which is amazing & never happened something like that. Coming in an hitting five sixes in a row to win a match, I mean what level is this? So that transition is happening is great. It is great to see such youngsters coming up.
3) Shubman Gill – Gujarat Titans
The young Indian opening batter is gradually becoming into an all-format star for India and is enjoying a fantastic IPL season. Shubman Gill is on pace to surpass his 483-run total from last season, having already scored 469 runs in IPL 2023 at a strike rate of 143.43.
Prior to the IPL, the Gujarat Titans hitter reached peak form with a maiden Test century, a productive white-ball season, and a maiden Test century at home in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
After a shaky start to his T20I career, the teenager bounced back with a century against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, earning accolades from Virat Kohli.
On his Instagram story, the former India captain referred to Gill as a ‘Sitaara’ (Star) and wrote:
“The future is here.”