IPL auction 2018: 10 uncapped India & international youngsters who could fetch big money
Here is a look at the top-10 unpcapped players, Indian and international, who could fetch big bucks at the 2018 Indian Premier League auction.
We have seen relatively lesser known and uncapped players (like Krunal Pandya, Murugan Ashwin, KC Cariappa, Mohammed Siraj) get snapped by Indian Premier League (IPL) teams at astronomical prices and this year will be no different. Here’s a look at the uncapped players who could hit the jackpot:
Prithvi Shaw – India - (Base Price – Rs.20 lakh)
The right-handed batsman came into limelight after his marathon knock of 546 during an inter-school match in Mumbai. The 18-year-old scored five centuries in his debut Ranji Trophy season and has already made his mark in the ongoing ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, with two fifties in four games. Shaw’s rapid rise makes him a valuable asset for any team.
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Shubman Gill – India - (Base Price – Rs.20 lakh)
The 18-year-old was the top-scorer in last year’s Youth ODI series in England, averaging 92.66. This prompted Punjab selectors to include him in the Ranji Trophy squad and the right-handed batsman hit a century in only his second first-class game. He has continued his splendid form in the U-19 World Cup. Teams like Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab have been known to pick young players, and Gill could be one.
Kamlesh Nagarkoti – India - (Base Price – Rs.20 lakh)
The 18-year-old Kamlesh Nagarkoti has bowled consistently between 145-150 kph in the ongoing U-19 World Cup. Impressed, Sourav Ganguly has already asked the BCCI and Virat Kohli to keep a keen eye on him. He has already picked seven wickets in the tournament. Nagarkoti, who picked a hat-trick for Rajasthan in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match, is sure to invite a huge bidding war in the auction.
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Rajneesh Gurbani – India - (Base Price – Rs.20 lakh)
One of the architects of Vidarbha’s maiden Ranji Trophy win, Rajneesh Gurbani finished as the team’s highest wicket-taker with 39 scalps in six matches. He created headlines by becoming only the second bowler in history to take a hat-trick in the tournament’s final. Gurbani, whose base price is Rs.20 lakh, could trigger bidding war among teams.
Navdeep Saini – India - (Base Price – Rs.20 lakh)
Till last year, Saini’s career didn’t seem to be on track. He struggled with multiple injuries and even suffered a stress fracture a couple of years back. With 34 wickets in eight games for Delhi this season, the lanky pacer has quickly gained the attention of selectors and is currently with the India team in South Africa as a backup fast-bowler. Come January 27, the 25-year-old could turn a few heads towards him at the auction.
Dhruv Shorey – India - (Base Price – Rs.20 lakh)
The 25-year-old Shorey scored 593 runs in nine Ranji Trophy games for Delhi this season, with a hundred and fifty in the title clash. He continued his good form in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, helping his team win the trophy. With the kind of form he’s in, it’ll be very hard for teams to ignore him.
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Anukul Roy – India - (Base Price – Rs.20 lakh)
With 11 wickets in four matches, the 19-year-old left-arm spinner has been in outstanding form at the U-19 World Cup. Anukul was adjudged Man-of-the-Match in India’s encounter with Papua New Guinea, where his spell of 5/14 helped India bowl out the opposition for 64, which Shaw’s men chased down comfortably.
Jofra Archer –West Indies - (Base Price – Rs.40 lakh)
The Sussex all-rounder, who played for West Indies at the U-19 level, has become one of the most talked-about players in this year’s Big Bash League (BBL) after his solid show for Hobart Hurricanes. With his ability to clock over 145kph quite regularly, hit lusty blows down the order and pull off some incredible run outs, he seems a complete package for any team.
D’Arcy Short – Australia - (Base Price – Rs.20 lakh)
With 504 runs in nine games, the left-handed batsman has been a revelation in the BBL this season. The 27-year-old is the first player in competition’s history to reach the 500-run mark in a single season. Short has been rewarded for his stunning form, being selected in Australia’s T20 squad to face England and New Zealand in February’s tri-series. The incredible form of Hobart Hurricanes’ master blaster has him set for a mega IPL pay day.
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Sandeep Lamichhane – Nepal - (Base Price – Rs.20 lakh)
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke had earlier praised Lamichhane, saying the 17-year-old leg-spinner from Nepal has the potential to make it big. “Sandeep has a lot of potential and is extremely passionate about the game,” Clarke had said. Sandeep made a name for himself in the 2016 U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh where he ended up as the second highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps in six innings. The next couple of days will determine Sandeep’s future as an IPL player, and could change his career and the course of Nepal cricket forever.