When the curtains were raised on the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore last year, the likes of Dhawal Kulkarni, Palani Amarnath, Ashoke Dinda, Wriddhiman Saha and Manpreet Singh Gony would have had little clue that soon life as they knew it would never be the same again.

In just a few weeks’ time, the hitherto unknown cricketers from different parts of the country became household names. While Chennai Super Kings paceman Gony went on to represent India in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, young Kulkarni, who played for Mumbai Indians, made a blockbuster Ranji debut and was picked for the New Zealand tour.

With the second edition of the T20 league about to begin in South Africa, more youngsters will be eyeing to make a mark. However, Lalchand Rajput, who was in-charge of the Indians last year, expects fewer surprise packages this time. “The conditions will be completely different from what they were here last time. Any player who can get used to them quickly will have a chance to shine,” he says, adding: “Mind you, as the winter catches up (in the southern hemisphere), coping with the weather would also be one of the many challenges that they will be faced with.”

However, Rajput is of the view that while the young Indian batsmen may struggle, the fast bowlers should benefit from the bounce the South African pitches will offer.

Mumbai fast bowler Kulkarni, meanwhile, thinks a good showing in South Africa may even result in a trip to England — for the World Twenty20 Championship. “It is a fantastic opportunity, and with the Twenty20 World Cup also round the corner, a good performance in the IPL this time would really grab the selectors’ attention,” says the 20-year-old.

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