Mohali, May 3: Young Mandeep Singh has emerged as Kings XI Punjab's leading run-getter in IPL 5. With 277 runs in 10 games, he has upstaged some big internationals like David Hussey and Shaun Marsh. The 20-year-old right-hander is rated highly in the domestic circuit and he has proven his worth in IPL. A former India Under-19 vice-captain, Mandeep's impressive journey in IPL could take him far ahead. Previously, he was in Kolkata Knight Riders squad.

On Wednesday night, he made a crucial 43 in Punjab's win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. In the previous game against Chennai Super Kings, he registered a half century in a winning cause. He topped the batting charts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Twenty20 with 268 runs. His form was key in taking Punjab to the final where they lost to Baroda.

Mandeep could have been running on athletics track if he had followed his father's words. His father is an athletics coach and wanted his son to be an athlete. But Mandeep choose cricket instead. In the end, it was the right choice for him. Mandeep was India's vice-captain in Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. On the 2009 U-19 tour of Australia, he shone bright with the bat. He had already displayed his talent in first class cricket with 1,074 runs in 13 games at an average of 63.17. He has three hundreds and seven fifties since making debut in November, 2010.