IPL Auction 2018: Uncapped Players Likely to Attract a Bidding War

Of the 578 players that will go under the hammer at the IPL auction 2018, 298 are uncapped Indian cricketers.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a breeding ground for cricketers who have gone on to become international stars. Ravindra Jadeja, Murali Vijay and Axar Patel are just some of the many Indians who have come into the twenty-over league as unknown names but managed to impress selectors with their performances.

Each season has seen the rise of at least a few uncapped players who are not only highly sought-after during the auction but create a mark during the tournament.

This year, the IPL announced that a total of 578 players would go under the hammer at the auction in Bengaluru, on 27 and 28 January. A total of 62 capped Indians and 298 uncapped Indian cricketers will vie for the available slots, along with 182 capped overseas cricketers, 34 uncapped overseas players and 2 cricketers from Associate Nations.

From the pool of Indian cricketers yet to make their international debut, here’s a look at 8 players who are likely to attract a bidding war in IPL 2018’s auction.

1. Krunal Pandya

Base Price: Rs 40 lakh
Specialism: All-rounder

He was picked up for a whopping Rs 2 crore in his IPL debut, and rose to prominence as one of Mumbai Indians’ top performers last year. The all-rounder from Gujarat scored 243 runs at a strike rate of 136 and picked up 10 wickets at an economy rate of 6.82 in IPL 10. Moreover, his partnership with Mitchell Johnson played a crucial role in Mumbai’s win over the RPS in the final. Tottering at 79 for 7, the all-rounder’s 47 off 38 balls helped the champions post a total of 129, which they successfully managed to defend.

He was subsequently selected in India A’s squad for the tour of South Africa where he scored 73 runs in three matches, and picked one wicket. In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Krunal has scored 83 runs in four matches and has also picked up three wickets.

While it won’t be a surprise if MI use one of their two Right to Match (RTM) cards for him, one can surely expect a fight from several franchises for this all-round package.

2. Prithvi Shaw

Base Price: Rs 20 lakh
Specialism: Batsman

With five centuries in seven first-class games including one on his Ranji debut and another in his maiden Duleep Trophy game, 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw has managed to make a big mark in Indian cricket even before his international debut. The right-hand opening batsman was Mumbai’s second-highest scorer in the 2017-18 Ranji season with 537 runs in 6 matches runs at an average of 48.81.

Born in Maharashtra’s Thane, a 14-year-old Shaw first came to prominence with his 330-ball 546 for his school Rizvi Springfield in the 2013 Harris Shield tournament. Currently leading India’s Under-19 team at the World Cup in New Zealand, he has scored 94 and an unbeaten 57 in the two matches that the team has played so far.

Coming into the auction at a base price of Rs 20 lakh, the Maharashtra batsman could be one of the big buys in the auction this year.

3. Basil Thampi

Base Price: Rs 30 lakh
Specialism: Bowler

Winner of the ‘Emerging player of the Year’, 24-year-old Thampi was Gujarat Lions’ second-highest wicket with 11 scalps in his debut season last year. Moreover, it was his yorkers that caught everyone’s attention.

Following his performance in the IPL, the Kerala bowler earned his maiden India A call-up for the tour to South Africa in July 2017 and even played the home series against New Zealand A, where he dismissed three batsmen in four balls.

Thampi even earned his maiden India call-up for India’s T20 series against New Zealand, but didn’t get a chance to play. With Gujarat Lions team disbanded this year, it would be interesting to see which team gets their hands on this young pacer.

4. Deepak Hooda

Base Price: Rs 40 lakh
Specialism: All-rounder

Known to be a big-hitter since his Under-19 days, Hooda scored 151 runs in 14 matches at a strike-rate of 158.94 in his maiden Indian Premier League season with Rajasthan Royals. In 2016, he was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a whopping Rs 4.2 crore – 42 times his base price of Rs 10 lakh. In the two editions of the league since, he has scored 222 runs and picked up five wickets in 27 matches.

The 22-year-old also scored a half-century during India A’s home series against New Zealand A at Visakhapatnam in October.

With scores of 75, 51 and 100 in the Ranji Trophy last year as well as two half-centuries in four Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches is going to make Hooda a hot pick in IPL 2018’s auction.

5. Nitish Rana

Base Price: Rs 20 lakh
Specialism: All-rounder

Bought by Mumbai Indians in the 2015 auction for Rs 10 lakh, Nitish Rana did not play a single game in his debut season and was retained for the 2016 edition, scoring a total of 104 runs in 4 matches.

However, it was the 2017 edition of the Indian Premier League that saw his rise at the No 3 batting spot. The attacking left-handed batsman from Delhi smashed 333 runs in 13 matches that included three half-centuries.

Considering they have just two RTM cards remaining, Mumbai may not use one on Rana, but the young cricketer can be expected to go for a big amount in this auction.

6. Rahul Tripathi

Base Price: Rs 20 lakh
Specialism: Batsman

Picked for his base price of Rs 10 lakh, Rahul Tripathi was arguably one of the best finds of IPL 10. After the auction, the Maharashtra batsman had smashed 157 runs in three 50-over matches during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

In his maiden season, the 26-year-old was promoted to open the RPS’ innings with Ajinkya Rahane. And boy, did he justify that. The right-hand batsman scored a total of 391 runs in 14 matches, including a highest score of 93 against Kolkata Knight Riders. In the 2017-18 Ranji season, the cricketer smashed two centuries and two half-centuries.

7. Mayank Agarwal

Base Price: Rs 20 lakh
Specialism: Batsman

On the back of a great domestic season, Mayank Agarwal could be one of the highly sought-after uncapped players in the IPL auction this year.

The Karnataka batsman was the top run-getter in the 2017-18 Ranji season, with 1,160 runs in 6 matches at average of 105.45. Known to be an attacking batsman by nature, the 26-year-old smashed 5 tons and two half-centuries in the premier domestic tournament.

In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the right-hand batsman has scored two half-centuries in five T20 matches.

8. Rajneesh Gurbani

Base Price: Rs 20 lakh
Specialism: Bowler

Gurbani was one of the important contributors in Vidarbha’s maiden Ranji Trophy win this year. The 24-year-old pacer who was picked after impressive performances at the Under-19 and U-23 level, took a total of 39 wickets in the season. In fact, 27 of those came in Vidarbha’s last three knockout matches.

He picked four fifers in the team’s last four games, and also became only the second cricketer to take a hat-trick in the premier domestic tournament.

Though he’s picked just two wickets in five Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) matches, the pacer could be highly sought after in this year’s IPL auction.

(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at [e-mail]. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)