'A breakthrough season potential': Kohli, du Plessis 'most excited' for 22-year-old Indian youngster at RCB in IPL 2022

Mar 27, 2022 01:17 PM IST

Share Via

Copy Link

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis pointed out the 22-year-old youngster as an “exciting talent” for the upcoming season.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will begin their 2022 Indian Premier League campaign against Punjab Kings later today at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. The RCB will enter the tournament under a new captain in Faf du Plessis, who was bought by the franchise for INR 7 crore in the mega auction which preceded the tournament. Du Plessis succeeded Virat Kohli in the leadership role, who had stepped down as skipper during the previous season.

Faf du Plessis; Virat Kohli(YouTube/RCB)

Also read: PBKS star 3 wickets away from going past Bumrah for big feat against RCB

Ahead of the side's opening game against PBKS, the Royal Challengers shared a video on their official social media platforms in the build-up to the clash. The video provided insights from RCB's training sessions as du Plessis and Kohli spoke in detail over the squad's composition ahead of the tournament.

During the interactions, both were asked about the players they were “most excited” about ahead of the season, and while they mentioned a couple of players each, one name was common for du Plessis and Kohli – that of Indian youngster Anuj Rawat.

“Anuj, I'm looking forward to that,” du Plessis said. “He is an exciting young left-hander. Akash as well, he's someone who is brand new, there is something there. I like working with youngsters, the raw talent.”

Kohli, meanwhile, named Sri Lanka star Wanindu Hasaranga and Anuj as two players who he looks at as exciting prospects for the upcoming season. Kohli also added that the Indian youngster is a big “breakthrough potential.”

"I'm particularly excited about Wanindu, I think he is someone who could really come into zone. He has got the skills to have a very consistent season.

“Anuj is another one who is a very exciting talent. (He is) a breakthrough season potential. These are the names that I look at,” said Kohli.

A 22-year-old left-handed batter, Anuj Rawat made his IPL debut last year with Rajasthan Royals and represents Delhi in domestic cricket.

Orange Cap in IPL 2025, Purple Cap in IPL 2025 , and IPL Points Table 2025 – stay ahead with real-time match updates, team standings, and insights. Check live cricket score , player stats, and ICC rankings of top players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli . Get expert analysis, IPL match previews, and in-depth coverage of IPL 2025 and IPL Match Today along with KKR vs CSK Live on HT Crickit, powered by Hindustan Times – your trusted source for cricket news.