The IPL Emerging Player Award has been handed out every season since 2008 to the best young talent in the tournament.
From Shreevats Goswami in the inaugural season to Sai Sudharsan in IPL 2025, a total of 18 players have won this prestigious recognition so far.
Several past winners, including Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, went on to become mainstays of the Indian national team.
This article covers the complete IPL Emerging Players winners list, eligibility criteria, team-wise breakdown, key stats, and interesting facts about every winner.
What Is the IPL Emerging Player Award?
The IPL Emerging Player Award recognises the best young cricketer of each season based on consistent performance throughout the tournament.
Think of it as the IPL’s way of tipping its hat to the next generation. Many past recipients have graduated from this award straight into international cricket.
Eligibility Criteria for the IPL Emerging Player Award
Not just any young player qualifies. The BCCI has set clear eligibility rules that a player must meet before the start of that IPL season:
1. The player must not be older than 25–26 years at the start of the season (exact cut-off date of birth varies each year).
2. Must have played fewer than 5 Test matches and fewer than 20 ODIs for their country.
3. Must have played 25 or fewer IPL matches before the start of that season.
4. Must not have won the Emerging Player Award previously. Once you win it, you are out of the running for good.
The winner is chosen through a combination of public voting on the official IPL website and inputs from television commentators.
Complete IPL Emerging Players Winners List (2008 to 2025)
Here is the full IPL Emerging Player Award winners list from the inaugural edition to the most recent IPL 2025 season.
| Year | Player | Team | Role | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Shreevats Goswami | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Wicketkeeper-Batter | 82 runs in 4 matches |
| 2009 | Rohit Sharma | Deccan Chargers | Batter / Off-spin | 362 runs & 11 wickets in 16 matches |
| 2010 | Saurabh Tiwary | Mumbai Indians | Left-handed Batter | 419 runs in 16 matches |
| 2011 | Iqbal Abdulla | Kolkata Knight Riders | Left-arm Spinner | 16 wickets in 15 matches |
| 2012 | Mandeep Singh | Kings XI Punjab | Batter | 432 runs in 16 matches |
| 2013 | Sanju Samson | Rajasthan Royals | Wicketkeeper-Batter | 206 runs in 11 matches |
| 2014 | Axar Patel | Kings XI Punjab | Left-arm Spinner / All-rounder | 17 wickets in 17 matches |
| 2015 | Shreyas Iyer | Delhi Daredevils | Batter | 439 runs in 14 matches |
| 2016 | Mustafizur Rahman | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Left-arm Pacer | 17 wickets in 16 matches |
| 2017 | Basil Thampi | Gujarat Lions | Right-arm Pacer | 11 wickets in 12 matches |
| 2018 | Rishabh Pant | Delhi Capitals | Wicketkeeper-Batter | 684 runs in 14 matches |
| 2019 | Shubman Gill | Kolkata Knight Riders | Batter | 296 runs in 14 matches |
| 2020 | Devdutt Padikkal | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Left-handed Batter | 473 runs in 15 matches |
| 2021 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Chennai Super Kings | Batter | 635 runs in 16 matches |
| 2022 | Umran Malik | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Right-arm Pacer | 22 wickets in 14 matches |
| 2023 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Rajasthan Royals | Left-handed Batter | 625 runs in 14 matches |
| 2024 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | Sunrisers Hyderabad | All-rounder | 303 runs & 3 wickets in 15 matches |
| 2025 | Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | Left-handed Batter | 759 runs in 15 matches |
IPL Emerging Player Award: Season-by-Season Breakdown
Numbers in a table only tell half the story. Here is a closer look at every winner, what they did, and where their careers went from there.
2008: Shreevats Goswami (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
The very first IPL Emerging Player Award went to wicketkeeper-batter Shreevats Goswami, who had just helped India win the 2008 U-19 World Cup under Virat Kohli‘s captaincy.
Playing for RCB under Rahul Dravid, Goswami scored 82 runs in 4 matches, with a best of 52 against Delhi Daredevils
Despite that promising start, Goswami’s IPL career never truly took off. He played just 31 IPL matches across stints with RCB, KKR, RR, and SRH
2009: Rohit Sharma (Deccan Chargers)
Rohit Sharma needs no introduction today, but back in 2009, he was a 22-year-old with raw talent and a point to prove.
Playing for Deccan Chargers under Adam Gilchrist, Rohit scored 362 runs in 16 matches and also chipped in with 11 wickets using his off-spin
He played a pivotal role in Deccan Chargers winning their maiden IPL title that year. The rest, as they say, is history.
Rohit went on to captain Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, led India to the T20 World Cup 2024 victory, and became one of the greatest white-ball cricketers ever.
2010: Saurabh Tiwary (Mumbai Indians)
Another product of India’s 2008 U-19 World Cup squad, Saurabh Tiwary made an immediate impact at Mumbai Indians.
The aggressive left-hander smashed 419 runs in 16 matches, including three half-centuries His fearless batting earned him an India call-up too.
However, Tiwary’s career plateaued after that breakout season, and he announced his retirement from professional cricket in 2023.
2011: Iqbal Abdulla (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Iqbal Abdulla was a left-arm spinner who became a crucial part of KKR‘s setup during Gautam Gambhir’s early captaincy years.
He picked up 16 wickets in 15 matches with an excellent economy of 6.1, helping KKR reach the playoffs for the first time in their history.
Abdulla’s career, however, was limited to domestic cricket. He never quite got the sustained IPL run he deserved after that standout season.
2012: Mandeep Singh (Kings XI Punjab)
Mandeep Singh was the backbone of Kings XI Punjab‘s batting in 2012, scoring 432 runs in 16 matches at an average of 27.
He was their highest run-scorer that season, consistently delivering in the middle order.
Mandeep went on to represent India in limited-overs cricket and later played for RCB and KKR in subsequent IPL seasons.
2013: Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals)
A teenage Sanju Samson announced his arrival at Rajasthan Royals with 206 runs in 11 matches during IPL 2013.
While those numbers look modest, Samson’s batting composure against world-class bowling at such a young age grabbed everyone’s attention.
Fast forward to today, and Samson has captained Rajasthan Royals, become a regular in the Indian national team, and is one of the most destructive T20 batters in the country.
2014: Axar Patel (Kings XI Punjab)
A 20-year-old Axar Patel was in sizzling form with the ball for KXIP in 2014, picking up 17 wickets in 17 matches.
His contributions were key as Punjab reached the IPL final that year, which remains the last time the franchise qualified for the playoffs.
Axar has since become a regular in all three formats for India and currently serves as vice-captain of Delhi Capitals.
2015: Shreyas Iyer (Delhi Daredevils)
Shreyas Iyer‘s debut IPL season was nothing short of spectacular. Playing for Delhi Daredevils, he amassed 439 runs in 14 matches at an average of 33.77, including four half-centuries.
He was the fourth-highest Indian run-scorer that season, with a best of 83 against Mumbai Indians.
Iyer later captained Delhi, then moved to KKR where he led them to their third IPL title in 2024. He now leads Punjab Kings in the IPL.
2016: Mustafizur Rahman (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Here’s a fun fact: Mustafizur Rahman remains the only overseas player to ever win the IPL Emerging Player Award.
The Bangladeshi left-arm pacer claimed 17 wickets in 16 matches with a superb economy of 6.90, playing a pivotal role in SRH‘s maiden IPL title win under David Warner.
His deceptive slower balls and cutters made him nearly unplayable during that title run.
2017: Basil Thampi (Gujarat Lions)
Basil Thampi was a bargain buy for the now-defunct Gujarat Lions, picked for just ₹85 lakhs at the auction.
The Kerala pacer repaid that faith handsomely, scalping 11 wickets in 12 matches with a strike rate of 24.36. His pace and ability to nail yorkers caught the eye.
Unfortunately, Thampi’s IPL career didn’t sustain the same momentum. He went on to play for SRH and MI but couldn’t replicate those initial performances.
2018: Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)
Rishabh Pant didn’t just win the award in 2018. He practically demolished bowling attacks for fun.
The wicketkeeper-batter hammered 684 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 173.6, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer of the season.
His standout knock was a blistering 128* off 63 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. That innings alone put him on the global cricket map.
Today, Pant captains Lucknow Super Giants and is a key member of India’s Test batting lineup.
2019: Shubman Gill (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Shubman Gill was already being talked about as the future of Indian batting when he won this award at KKR.
He scored 296 runs in 14 matches at an average of 32, including three half-centuries. His elegant technique stood out even in the chaos of T20 cricket.
Gill has since become India’s vice-captain in white-ball cricket, captains Gujarat Titans in the IPL, and scored heavily across formats.
2020: Devdutt Padikkal (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
In a year when RCB‘s batting revolved around Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, a quiet youngster from Karnataka made a massive statement.
Devdutt Padikkal scored 473 runs in 15 matches, including five half-centuries, finishing as RCB’s leading run-scorer that season.
His calm strokeplay and partnership-building ability added a layer of stability to RCB’s often volatile top order.
2021: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)
Ruturaj Gaikwad‘s 2021 season was the stuff of IPL fairytales.
After a rough start, he turned things around spectacularly, scoring 635 runs in 16 matches with four half-centuries. He also won the Orange Cap that year.
More importantly, his consistency played a huge role in CSK winning their fourth IPL title under MS Dhoni in 2021.
2022: Umran Malik (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
If there was one player who made the entire IPL 2022 season sit up and take notice, it was Umran Malik from Jammu.
The express pacer consistently clocked 150+ km/h, picking up 22 wickets in 14 matches for SRH.
His raw pace earned him an immediate India call-up after the tournament. However, he has struggled for consistency at the international level since then.
2023: Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals)
Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s IPL 2023 campaign was a true breakout performance.
Opening for Rajasthan Royals, the left-hander blasted 625 runs in 14 matches, including five fifties and a superb century .
That season catapulted him into the Indian Test team, where he scored consecutive double-centuries against England in 2024. By 2025, Jaiswal was firmly established as one of the most exciting batters in world cricket.
2024: Nitish Kumar Reddy (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Nitish Kumar Reddy was the classic IPL success story of 2024. The Andhra all-rounder impressed with both bat and ball for SRH.
He scored 303 runs at an average of 33.67, with a healthy strike rate of 142.92, and also chipped in with 3 wickets .
His IPL form carried into international cricket, where he scored a gritty century in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Brisbane later that year, earning respect across the cricketing world.
2025: Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans)
Sai Sudharsan didn’t just win the Emerging Player Award in IPL 2025. He dominated the entire tournament.
The 23-year-old Tamil Nadu batter amassed 759 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.21 and a strike rate of 156.17, including one century and six half-centuries.
He also won the Orange Cap and the Most Fours award (88 fours), becoming the youngest Orange Cap winner in IPL history.
His exceptional IPL form earned him a maiden call-up to India’s Test squad for the series against England.
IPL Emerging Player Award: Team-Wise Breakdown
Which franchise has produced the most IPL Emerging Player winners? Here’s the full picture.
| IPL Franchise | Total Winners | Winners (Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3 | Mustafizur Rahman (2016), Umran Malik (2022), Nitish Kumar Reddy (2024) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2 | Shreevats Goswami (2008), Devdutt Padikkal (2020) |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | Iqbal Abdulla (2011), Shubman Gill (2019) |
| Kings XI Punjab / Punjab Kings | 2 | Mandeep Singh (2012), Axar Patel (2014) |
| Rajasthan Royals | 2 | Sanju Samson (2013), Yashasvi Jaiswal (2023) |
| Delhi Daredevils / Delhi Capitals | 2 | Shreyas Iyer (2015), Rishabh Pant (2018) |
| Deccan Chargers | 1 | Rohit Sharma (2009) |
| Mumbai Indians | 1 | Saurabh Tiwary (2010) |
| Gujarat Lions | 1 | Basil Thampi (2017) |
| Chennai Super Kings | 1 | Ruturaj Gaikwad (2021) |
| Gujarat Titans | 1 | Sai Sudharsan (2025) |
Key Observations From the Team-Wise Data
Sunrisers Hyderabad leads the pack with 3 winners, all of them different types of cricketers: a Bangladeshi pacer, a raw speedster from J&K, and an Andhra all-rounder.
Six franchises share the second spot with 2 winners each: RCB, KKR, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals.
The now-defunct Deccan Chargers and Gujarat Lions both have one winner each, proving that even short-lived teams contributed to Indian cricket’s talent pipeline.
Interesting Facts About IPL Emerging Player Award Winners
Beyond the stats table, this award is full of fascinating trivia. Here are some standout records and facts worth knowing.
The Only Overseas Winner
In 18 seasons of the IPL, Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) is the sole overseas player to win this award. Out of 18 winners, 17 have been Indian cricketers.
Winners Who Also Won the Orange Cap
Only two Emerging Player Award winners have also claimed the Orange Cap in the same season:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (2021, CSK) with 635 runs, and Sai Sudharsan (2025, GT) with 759 runs.
The Biggest Post-Award Career: Rohit Sharma
No winner’s career has soared higher than Rohit Sharma‘s. From winning this award in 2009 to leading India in all formats, captaining MI to 5 IPL titles, and winning the T20 World Cup 2024 as captain, his trajectory is unmatched.
Fastest Rise to International Stardom
Yashasvi Jaiswal might hold this unofficial record. Within months of his IPL 2023 heroics, he debuted for India in Tests and scored back-to-back double centuries against England in early 2024.
Batters vs Bowlers: Who Wins More?
Out of 18 winners, 13 have primarily been batters or wicketkeeper-batters. Only 4 have been bowlers (Abdulla, Axar, Mustafizur, Thampi, Umran Malik), and 1 was a genuine all-rounder (Nitish Kumar Reddy).
Clearly, run-scoring catches the eye more often when it comes to this award.
CSK’s Long Wait
Chennai Super Kings had to wait until their 14th IPL season (2021) to produce their first Emerging Player winner in Ruturaj Gaikwad. This makes sense, though, as CSK has historically relied on experienced cricketers rather than raw youngsters.
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Conclusion: IPL Emerging Player Award Brings Out Future Superstars
The IPL Emerging Player Award has been a reliable indicator of future cricketing stars since 2008.
From Rohit Sharma to Sai Sudharsan, this award’s alumni reads like a who’s who of Indian cricket’s next generation.
With IPL 2026 around the corner, another young talent will be looking to add their name to this prestigious list.
