IPL 2026: Top 5 Rookies to Watch Out For
The IPL 2026 season will once again shine the spotlight on young talent. The IPL trophy carries a Sanskrit inscription “Yatra Pratibha Avsara Prapnotihi”, which translates to “where talent meets opportunity” and the league has lived up to that promise over the years.
Several players have used the IPL as a launchpad to the Indian team. Names like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and so many more all rose through the league.
Last season, Vaibhav Suryavanshi emerged as the next big thing.
Although he’s yet to make his senior debut, he’s already shattering records tournament after tournament.
As the new season approaches, here are 5 rookies to watch in IPL 2026.
Kartik Sharma – CSK in IPL 2026
Kartik Sharma is an aggressive batter who can also keep wickets. He first caught attention during IPL 2025, when he trained with the CSK squad and played intra-squad games at their High-Performance Academy in Chennai.
The 19-year-old impressed in domestic cricket for Rajasthan. He topped the six-hitting charts in the early phase of the Ranji Trophy. He then smashed 11 sixes in just 83 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
During the tournament, he took on experienced spinners like Shreyas Gopal and R Sai Kishore. His fearless approach makes him a strong prospect for IPL 2026.
CSK also have Prashant Veer who is nicknamed “Miller” in the age-group circuit for his ability to hit big sixes. He was picked at INR 14.2 crore, the same sum CSK splashed for Kartik. He is recovering from a shoulder injury, suffered in January and has not played a competitive game since then.
Auqib Nabi – DC
Auqib Nabi is known for his red-ball skills, but he has shown strong growth in the T20 format ahead of IPL 2026.
The 29-year-old fast bowler played a key role in Jammu & Kashmir’s maiden Ranji Trophy title. He also finished as the top wicket-taker of the Ranji season, including a match-winning spell in the final.
In the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Nabi picked up 15 wickets in 7 matches at an economy of 7.41. He improved his death bowling, delivering accurate yorkers, including wide ones.
With T Natarajan struggling for rhythm recently, Delhi Capitals could rely on Nabi for key overs in IPL 2026.
Ashok Sharma – GT in IPL 2026
Ashok Sharma brings raw pace, which is always valuable in the IPL. He touched 150 kph during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The 23-year-old attracted strong interest at the IPL 2026 auction, with 4 franchises bidding before Gujarat Titans secured him for INR 90 lakh.
Ashok has some IPL exposure. Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for ₹55 lakh in 2023, while Rajasthan Royals picked him for ₹30 lakh ahead of IPL 2025.
Ashok finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 22 wickets in 10 innings at an economy of 9.25. He also showed the ability to bowl across different phases of the innings.
He could be the next fast-bowling sensation after names like Mayank Yadav and Umran Malik in IPL 2026.
Mangesh Yadav – RCB
Mangesh Yadav is a left-arm pacer who can hit speeds of 140 kph and also bowl slower variations.
He won the Emerging Player award in the MP T20 League, which earned him a place in the senior Madhya Pradesh side for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He picked up 3 wickets in 2 matches.
During the auction, Mangesh was identified as a like-for-like replacement for Yash Dayal. He can also contribute with the bat lower down the order. With Dayal out for the season due to legal proceedings against him, Yadav’s chances grow stronger. Even if Dayal did play, it is important to note that he hasn’t played any competitive cricket since IPL 2025.
With Josh Hazlewood likely to miss the opening matches, RCB could start give opportunities to Indian pacers like Yadav, Rasikh Salam or Abhinandan Singh in their XI in IPL 2026.
Shivang Kumar – SRH
Shivang Kumar offers a rare skill set. He is a left-arm wrist-spinner who can also bat.
He impressed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and followed it up with a strong Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign. Shivang picked up a 5-wicket haul against Karnataka in Ahmedabad.
In a recent intra-squad match on a flat Hyderabad pitch (282 vs 253 on March 21), Shivang returned figures of 2 for 39 in 4 overs, including the wicket of Liam Livingstone.
Sunrisers Hyderabad have a history of backing young talent like Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad and Umran Malik. Shivang could be the next name to emerge in IPL 2026.