The 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) begins on Saturday 7 April with Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This season marks the return of the Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals to the eight-team competition following a two-year suspension.

Here's a look at some of the younger players who could play big roles in the competition and raise their global profiles.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Kings XI Punjab)

The 17-year-old spinner from Afghanistan has several variations up his sleeve – a useful armoury for Twenty20 cricket – and has risen to prominence recently following his performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018.

Afghanistan's qualification for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 was made possible in a large part because of Rahman's efforts with the ball – he picked up 17 wickets in the tournament at 16.41.

Although he has only nine T20s under his belt, the variations that he possesses – turning the ball in both directions with little or no change in his action – makes him a great asset in the shortest format of the game.

Lungi Ngidi (Chennai Super Kings)

A six-wicket haul on Test debut against India made the world sit up and take notice of the 22-year-old from South Africa. Ngidi has played only three Tests, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals in his short career, but has impressed with his raw pace and accuracy.

He has the experience of playing 39 T20s and has picked up 43 wickets at an average of 19.41. The fast bowler's presence in the Super Kings' set-up will give another new-ball option to the side that won two successive IPL titles in 2010 and 2011.

Sarfaraz Khan (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Royal Challengers Bangalore had retained Sarfaraz Khan, the 20-year-old batsman, alongside captain Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers before the latest auction, a move that had surprised some.

Having played for RCB in the 2016 edition, Sarfaraz had to sit out the following year owing to an injury but was taken care of by the team during his rehabilitation period. The interest was clear – the team identified Sarfaraz as a hard-hitting lower-order batsman.

His T20 strike rate of 147.25 does justice to the team's belief and Sarfaraz, who has 402 runs from 38 T20 matches, might become a big player for RCB if he lives up to the expectations.

Prithvi Shaw (Delhi Daredevils)

The captain of the victorious India team in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2018 in New Zealand had been making news even before he set sail for New Zealand to lead the Indian side in the biennial event.

The 18-year-old averages 56.22 from 10 first-class games but more crucially, scores at a strike rate of 73.92. His List A strike rate of 91.69 is even better. Recognised as a hard-hitting top-order batsman, Shaw's presence in the Delhi line-up, which already has Rishabh Pant in it, can be intimidating for other teams.

The Mumbai-born batsman will be playing under Gautam Gambhir, another opening batsman who was part of the victorious ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 team, and will look to push for promotion to the higher levels.

Mustafizur Rahman (Mumbai Indians)

The defending IPL champions have availed the services of the Bangladesh fast bowler this season to strengthen their death-bowling resources. Along with Jasprit Bumrah, Rahman comes into the side as someone who can bowl at any stage of a match.

Although he is only 22, his numbers are great. Rahman has 78 wickets from 63 T20s and has picked them at an excellent economy rate of 6.94. These 63 games also include 24 T20Is and an appearance in the ICC World T20 2016.

Shubman Gill (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Shubman Gill was one of the finds for India from the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2018 and has been picked up by the Knight Riders in what will be his debut season.

The 18-year-old right-handed batsman was the Player of the Series at the World Cup after scoring 372 runs from six games at an outstanding average of 124.00 and an impressive strike rate of 112.38.

These numbers prompted the Knight Riders to procure his services for the season and strengthen their batting line-up that has the likes of Dinesh Karthik, the captain, Andre Russell and Robin Uthappa.

Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)

Another exciting young talent in the IPL, Archer is a Barbados-born all-rounder who aims to make a career in England, the country his father was born in.

Archer has already played in the Pakistan Super League and the Big Bash League, and this will be his debut IPL season. He has 195 runs at a strike rate of 143.38 and 50 wickets at an economy rate of 7.90 from 41 T20s.

Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

The No.1-ranked T20I bowler, Rashid Khan has already become one of the leading spin bowlers in world cricket. Having helped Afghanistan qualify for their second successive ICC Cricket World Cup, Khan is now set to play for Hyderabad for the second time, having already turned out for them in 2017.

Khan has 17 wickets in 14 IPL matches and 135 wickets overall from 91 T20 games at an average of 15.14. His economy rate of 5.80 is excellent given the demands of the shortest format of the game, and the fact that wrist-spinners are so highly valued makes him an asset for any side.