Not yet in blue, but already in the spotlight- How IPL Finals forged these rising stars
IPL has long been a breeding ground for Indian cricket talent. But under the brightest lights—the final—not everyone delivers. It takes something special to rise to the occasion. And these five uncapped Indian batters did just that. They stepped up when the pressure was sky-high, leaving their mark on the game's biggest night. This is a look back at the finest knocks by uncapped Indian players in IPL finals—a tale of nerves, brilliance, and game-changing moments.
The 2023 IPL final was chaos and drama. Rain delays. A revised target. A final-ball finish. But in all that madness, Sai Sudharsan brought clarity. The 21-year-old from Tamil Nadu played an extraordinary knock—96 off just 47 balls. While CSK eventually won via the DLS method, Sudharsan owned the spotlight.
He started cautiously. But once he switched gears, there was no stopping him. His bat danced, especially in the death overs. Sudharsan's 8 fours and 6 sixes came with calculated aggression. Even Matheesha Pathirana couldn't escape—he was hammered for 34 off 14 balls. Sai's innings weren't just fireworks—they were a signal. It was a quiet announcement that India had found a future great. He got his T20I cap the very next year, but it all began here.
Back in 2014, when KKR needed nearly 200 to win their second title, a young Manish Pandey stood tall. He walked in early and changed the game with a fearless 94 off 50 balls. The Punjab bowlers tried everything, but Pandey's shot selection was too good.
His 7 fours and 6 towering sixes carried Kolkata past Kings XI with just three balls to spare. At that point, he was still an uncapped player. But that innings—filled with clean hits, brave intent, and no signs of panic—turned him into a household name. Pandey didn't just win the match. He earned a place in India's future.
Some innings become legends. Others are remembered quietly, like Manvinder Bisla's stunning 89 in the 2012 final against CSK. Gambhir fell early, and the chase looked steep. Enter Bisla—unheralded, uncapped, and fearless.
He took on the CSK bowlers with pure intent. 8 fours, 5 sixes, and a flurry of audacious shots. From Ashwin to Morkel, no one was spared. His partnership with Jacques Kallis turned the tide completely. Bisla never played for India and faded from the IPL, too. But that one night, he played like a champion and handed KKR their first-ever title.
In the 2021 final in Dubai, KKR were chasing 193. They started well. And at the heart of it was Venkatesh Iyer, a rising left-hander who had yet to wear Indian colours. He smashed a quick-fire 50 from just 32 balls—packed with 5 boundaries and 3 sixes.
His leg-side play was bold, and he made CSK's spinners pay. But after his dismissal, KKR collapsed. They lost the match. Yet Iyer's innings stood out. He earned his T20I debut that same year. But the seeds of belief were sown on the final night.
The 2017 final was tight. Mumbai were struggling. They limped to 79 for 7, and a low total looked certain. But Krunal Pandya had other plans. He didn't go berserk. He absorbed the pressure, scored a crucial 47 off 38, and gave Mumbai a total to defend—just enough. His 2 sixes and 3 boundaries weren't flashy. But they were priceless. That one run win? It began with Krunal's grit. The following year, he became an Indian player.
