Who are the youngest debutants to shine in IPL?


IPL 2023 Winner

the IPL debut glow-up club—where young guns explode onto the scene, sometimes before they can even vote 🧨
Let’s talk about the **youngest debutants who didn’t just play… they shone.

👶 Youngest IPL Debutants Who Made a Big Impact

🧢 1. Prithvi Shaw (Debut at 18 yrs, 165 days – Delhi Capitals)

  • 🔥 IPL Debut: 2018

  • 🏏 Became youngest to hit an IPL fifty (18y, 169d)

  • ⚡ Powerplay beast with fearless strokeplay

“Mini Sehwag” vibes from day one.

💣 2. Riyan Parag (Debut at 17 yrs, 175 days – Rajasthan Royals)

  • 🧠 Calm beyond his years

  • 🔥 First teenager to score an IPL fifty for RR

  • 💃 Celebrated with a dance; played like a veteran

Still just 22 in 2025—with 5+ seasons under his belt!

💥 3. Sarfaraz Khan (Debut at 17 yrs, 177 days – RCB)

  • 🧁 Debut Year: 2015

  • 🤯 Played outrageous scoops & trick shots as a teen

  • 👀 Though consistency was elusive, he made waves instantly

“Kid can reverse-scoop Malinga?!” Yeah, that happened.

🧠 4. Rashid Khan (Debut at 18 yrs, 237 days – SRH)

  • 🌍 Already an Afghan prodigy, IPL gave him global stardom

  • 🎯 Foxed top batters in debut season (17 wickets in 2017)

  • 📈 Became face of Afghan cricket

Best-ever teenage buy in IPL history? Arguably, yes.

⚡ 5. Shubman Gill (Debut at 18 yrs, 237 days – KKR)

  • 🔁 Steady start, then bloomed big

  • 👑 GT’s Orange Cap winner in 2023 (890 runs!)

  • 💫 Now a face of Indian cricket—IPL launched the arc

Young prince turned king.

🔄 6. Sanju Samson (Debut at 18 yrs, 169 days – RR)

  • 💎 Classy debut in 2013

  • 🏆 IPL’s Emerging Player of the Year

  • 🧢 Now a franchise captain with serious finesse

One of the most graceful IPL evolutions ever.

🎯 7. Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Debut at 19 – KKR)

  • ⚡ U-19 star

  • 🏥 Injury-delayed debut, but impressed with pace and control

  • 💪 Proved his mettle under pressure in crunch overs

KKR waited 2 years—and it was worth it.

🦁 8. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Debut at 17 yrs, 11 months – PBKS)

  • 🌪️ Mystery spinner from Afghanistan

  • 😵 Bamboozled senior batters with variations

  • 🌀 Became youngest to take a 3-fer in IPL

Another Afghan gem polished by the IPL.

🧤 9. Ishan Kishan (Debut at 18 yrs – Gujarat Lions)

  • 🧨 Attacking lefty, matured at MI

  • 💰 Became a ₹15.25 Cr buy later—showed IPL’s role in grooming stars

From noisy debut to team India call-ups = IPL route.

🛠️ 10. Arshdeep Singh (Debut at 20 – PBKS)

  • 🧠 Cool-headed under pressure

  • 🧤 Bowled death overs early in his career

  • 🌟 Became Team India’s go-to left-arm option post-IPL 2022

Smooth rise from U-23 to India A to India XI—thanks to IPL spotlight.

👀 Quick Look: Youngest Debutants to Perform

Player Age at Debut Team Notable Feat
Riyan Parag 17y, 175d RR 1st teen to hit IPL fifty
Sarfaraz Khan 17y, 177d RCB Innovative strokeplay
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 17y, 359d PBKS Youngest 3-wicket haul
Prithvi Shaw 18y, 165d DC Youngest IPL fifty
Rashid Khan 18y, 237d SRH 17 wickets in debut season
Shubman Gill 18y, 237d KKR Classy start, future star

📢 Why It Matters:

  • 🔭 IPL accelerates talent exposure

  • 🧠 Young players learn from legends

  • 💥 A single season can define a career

  • 💬 Teenagers go from “raw” to “reliable” within months

Want a graphic showing age vs performance for these young stars? Or a “Teenage XI” built from IPL talent only?