A TREASURE house of talent, the Indian Premier League (IPL) never ceases to throw up surprising packages. This edition of the league has not failed the popular perception as it churned out some unheralded gems and polished some finely cut diamonds in equal measure. Apart from the heartwarming entertainment it has provided to its fans, the IPL has also come up with some serious contenders who can stake their claim for a spot in the national team. At the same time, it has also brought a broad smile for the Indian team think-tank as the Rohit Sharma-led bunch lands in England in a few days for a shot at the World Test Championship.

What the IPL has done for the national team can be split in two parts. One, it has provided the team a huge sigh of relief with the tremendous form displayed by former captain Virat Kohli and the highly talented opener Shubman Gill. Two, it has earmarked a new line of young players to be tested in the shorter formats of the game in the coming season. In both the cases, the ultimate churning from the grind can be easily utilised for the ICC 50-over World Cup scheduled at home in October-November. These are the special dividends of this edition of the IPL that India must invest wisely to build a new line of claimants, ready to take a plunge in international cricket.

The form of Kohli and Gill is easily the story of this IPL. While Kohli could not stretch his individual luck to influence the team’s final standing, he has done enough to sound warning to the world that he is ready to rock as a talisman. The Delhi batter was in pristine touch, runs flowing from his blade with supreme ease. Bust-ups off the field did not spoil his mood as his back-to-back hundreds showed at the business end of the tournament. That he was denied by another supremely talented batter matching his intensity would only spur him to do better in the India colours. This is the real gain for Team India as they embark on another international sojourn in a week’s time.

What Kohli would also acknowledge as pure genius was the way Shubman Gill batted in the entire tournament. He batted with a special touch, the classy century against Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator being the highlight of his journey this IPL. As the former players shower encomiums on the young opener, Gill has also answered to the call of the team management as a perfect opener in the WTC final against Australia. The Punjab batsman has already proved his mettle in the whites during his overseas tours. Though he was found a bit wet behind the ears, Gill has clearly shown all signs of maturity with his stellar show in the IPL. All he needs is to translate the same energy into a calibrated storm in the longer version of the game. Given the shrewd brain he employs while pacing the innings, Gill is set to become an established customer in the national team in no time.