Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma led India U19 to the Youth Asia Cup title in December 2016, doubling up as tournament's second-highest wicket-taker, and was an important member of the side that lifted the 2018 ICC U19 World Cup later in New Zealand. In the 2018 IPL auctions, Sharma was sold to Delhi Daredevils for INR 55 lakh.

Sharma featured in all of India's games at the World Cup, scoring an important fifty versus Bangladesh in the quarterfinal and constituting one-third of India's left-arm spin triumvirate at the competition. He was India's captain for the Youth ODIs versus England at home in 2017, which India aced 3-1, until Prithvi Shaw replaced him at the helm for the return tour to England and continued so in the World Cup.

On return from World Cup, Sharma featured in the 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy for his state Punjab. And before the WC, he debuted in the Ranji Trophy for Punjab carving out gutsy performances for his state side.

IPL through the years

When Delhi Daredevils - now Delhi Capitals - lost hope in their tried and tested combinations and became one of the first sides to fade away from the play-off race in 2018 edition of IPL, a 17-year old boy from Punjab made his debut in an inconsequential game for his side against the mighty Royal Challengers Bangalore. Although a little too late for his liking, Sharma proved his credentials almost instantly as the teenage all-rounder smashed a 19-ball 46 in his debut game that included a hat-trick of boundaries (one four and two sixes) against one of the most reputed bowlers in world cricket, Tim Southee.

Sharma finished the season with only two games against his name, but his eye-catching debut innings drew plenty of attraction. So much so that, Sunrisers Hyderabad included him in the list of three players (from DD) in return for Shikhar Dhawan as a part of the trading window. With age on his side, one would feel that the Under - 19 star would get ample opportunities with his all-round abilities deemed as an added advantage in the shortest format.