Every IPL season carries the promise of fresh talent announcing itself to the cricketing world, and the 2026 edition looks no different. This year's tournament, starting 28 March, features a striking batch of young cricketers who satisfy every criterion of the official Emerging Player Award; born on or after 1 April 2000, with fewer than five Test caps, fewer than 20 ODIs, and under 25 IPL appearances to their name entering the season.
1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals)
At just 14, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has already put up numbers that many seasoned players have not. The Bihar-born batting sensation amassed 252 runs in IPL 2025, including a century and a fifty, at a strike rate of 206.55 across seven matches; figures that turned heads across the cricketing world. Beyond the IPL, he led India's charge at the U-19 World Cup final in February 2026, striking an outstanding 175 against England as India won the title by 100 runs. Rajasthan Royals now hand him a full campaign rather than the limited outings he received on debut, and the expectation is for him to start regularly and bat deep into the powerplay with that wristy, freewheeling technique that bowlers struggled to pin down.
2. Ayush Mhatre (Chennai Super Kings)
Ayush Mhatre stepped into CSK's 2025 squad as a replacement for the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad and quickly showed why the franchise backed him. The 17-year-old scored 240 runs at an average of 34.28 and a strike rate of 188.97 in nine matches, including a blistering 94 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. CSK retained him for the 2026 season at ₹30 lakh, a sign that the franchise rate him highly for years ahead.
His performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy reinforced that form, with Mhatre finishing as Mumbai's third-highest run-scorer after hitting two consecutive centuries. He captained the victorious India U-19 side through the 2026 World Cup campaign, gaining leadership experience well before most players even settle into domestic cricket.
3. Kartik Sharma (Chennai Super Kings)
CSK's record auction signing from the 2025 mini-auction, Kartik Sharma, cost the franchise a substantial ₹14.2 crore. It is a figure that reflects how highly the franchise rate his potential. The uncapped all-rounder built his reputation through a fearless middle-order strike rate in domestic T20 cricket, and CSK clearly see in him the finishing presence their line-up has long sought. With fewer than 25 IPL appearances to his name entering this season, he meets the eligibility threshold for the Emerging Player Award comfortably. If the opportunities come in the middle overs, where he can hit big and bowl usefully, giving the team a handy two-in-one option, Sharma could finish the season among the most talked-about young cricketers in the country.
