From Umran Malik to Arshdeep Singh: These Indian youngsters are garnering praise from legends for impressive IPL 2022 performances - In Pics

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has heaped praise on young Sunrisers Hyderabad speedster Umran Malik and claimed the pacer from Jammu is going to play for India.

Lara said, "Umran Malik reminds me a lot about Fiedel Edwards when he first started, a lot of pace and I hope that he understands it as he goes into international cricket, which I think he'll eventually play. In the IPL, a lot of batsmen get accustomed to playing sheer pace, so I hope that he adds a little bit more to his armoury later on. He's a quick learner in the nets, he's willing to learn and it's just awesome to see India has a pacer of that calibre, it's just tremendous."

 

Young Mumbai Indians' middle-order batter Tilak Varma has garnered a lot of attention with his confident batting performances. The 19-year-old left-handed batter has impressed the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar is impressed with Tilak Varma's ability to read the situations brilliantly.

Gavaskar said, "His composure at the crease has impressed me. The way he's reading situations and batting accordingly. That is so crucial, when you read the situation well your shot selection is much better. He's growing in confidence with every game, you can see that his place in the team is settled and he's looking to play different shots. But only when there's less risk involved and that is the best aspect of his batting. I now want him to convert those 30s-40s into those big 60s-70s. He's got all the attributes of getting successful at this stage."

 

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh lauded young Rajasthan Royals' all-rounder Riyan Parag for finally reposing the faith of team management with his match-winning fifty against RCB.

Harbhajan said, "With his fifty against RCB, he's proved that he has finally arrived. He has got a lot of talent because he has a good temperament and good range of shots and that's why Rajasthan Royals' team management has shown so much faith in him. But time has come for him to take up more responsibility and contribute."

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes Punjab Kings' uncapped left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is bowling exceedingly well in the death overs and he could be walking into the national side.

Speaking on 'Cricket Live' on Star Sports, Shastri said: "For someone so young and then to deliver time and time again when the chips are down and the pressure is on him (it's brilliant to see). Arshdeep is holding on to his nerves brilliantly, he's doing well in death overs. This shows he's moving up the ranks very quickly and he could be walking into the Indian team."

 

Youngster Abhishek Sharma has so far delivered on the confidence reposed in him by Sunrisers Hyderabad who bought him in IPL 2022 auctions at a hefty price of Rs 6.5 crore. Although Sharma was part of their roaster since 2019, he had largely failed to impress but the 2016 champions continued to keep their faith in him.

He has been one of the main reasons behind SRH's turnaround in the IPL 2022 after the team lost their opening two games of the tournament.

"Sweet striker of the ball but packs a punch too," former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer said while describing Abhishek.