IPL auction 2018: Six uncapped Indian players to keep an eye on

January 22, 2018 04:53 pm | Updated 06:32 pm IST

A view of the Vivo IPL Trophy.

A view of the Vivo IPL Trophy.

On January 27 and 28, a total of 578 players will go under the hammer during the 2018 IPL auction. The list includes 360 capped and uncapped Indian players. Uncapped players are those who have not represented India in international cricket. With so many international stars in the mix, the eight franchises would have also kept an eye on some exciting Indian players from the domestic and Under-19 circuit deserving of an IPL contract. Here’s a look at select Indian players who are likely to attract attention on auction day.

Prithvi Shaw

Batsman, Mumbai

 Captain Prithvi Shaw of India bats during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup match between India and Papua New Guinea at Bay Oval on January 16, 2018 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Captain Prithvi Shaw of India bats during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup match between India and Papua New Guinea at Bay Oval on January 16, 2018 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

You may remember Prithvi Shaw as the 14-year-old kid who scored 546 – a record for the highest score by an Indian in minor cricket – during a school match in Mumbai in 2013. Shaw has since made the grade to the senior Mumbai team in the Ranji Trophy and is currently leading the Indian Under-19 team in the World Cup in New Zealand. Shaw scored a century on Ranji debut for Mumbai and in nine first-class games he already has five centuries. In the ongoing U-19 World Cup, he scored 94 against the Australians. Will Mumbai Indians fight to get their local boy?

Shubman Gill

Batsman, Punjab

 Indian batsman and Player of the Match Shubman Gill in action against Zimbabwe during ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 in Mount Maunganui.

Indian batsman and Player of the Match Shubman Gill in action against Zimbabwe during ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 in Mount Maunganui.

The right-handed batsman has already played two Ranji games for Punjab, scoring a century in one of them. He is currently Shaw’s deputy at the U-19 World Cup. Gill scored an unbeaten double-century in his U-16 debut for Punjab in the Vijay Merchant Trophy. He also won the best junior cricketer at the BCCI awards for two years in succession. He won the Man of the Series prize in the U-19 ODIs against England, smashing 147 in a one-day match in Sussex. He also has two fifties in the ongoing World Cup. Kings XI Punjab must be keeping tabs on him.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti

Fast bowler, Rajasthan

 Kamlesh Nagarkoti of India U19s appeals during the 5th Youth ODI match between England U19s and India Under 19s at The Cooper Associates County Ground on August 16, 2017 in Taunton, England.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti of India U19s appeals during the 5th Youth ODI match between England U19s and India Under 19s at The Cooper Associates County Ground on August 16, 2017 in Taunton, England.

Another player who would be following this auction closely from New Zealand is Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Nagarkoti made waves against Australia by clocking close to 150 kph. The right-arm fast bowler already has a hat-trick in a domestic one-dayer. Nagarkoti too impressed during the U-19 tour of England, taking ten wickets in a Youth Test at Chesterfield. If he can maintain speeds of 140 and above, he will certainly be one exciting quick bowler to watch. With Rajasthan Royals back in the fray, they would be eyeing one of their own, surely.

Rajneesh Gurbani

Fast bowler, Vidarbha

 Vidarbha bowler Rajneesh Gurbani in action during the Ranji Trophy cricket final match between Delhi and Vidarbha at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on January 1, 2018.

Vidarbha bowler Rajneesh Gurbani in action during the Ranji Trophy cricket final match between Delhi and Vidarbha at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on January 1, 2018.

One of the main reasons for Vidarbha's success in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy is the emergence of fast bowler Rajneesh Gurbani who finished the season as the second-highest wicket-taker with 39 wickets. Gurbani, 24, took a hat-trick in the first innings of the final against Delhi and his innings figures of 6 for 59 kept Delhi to 295. The Vidarbha batsmen then went on to take a big first-innings lead, which paved the way for their first ever Ranji title. The Nagpur-born civil engineer is not express pace – he is more in the Bhuvneshwar Kumar mould, who can swing it well.

R. Sai Kishore

Left-arm spinner, Tamil Nadu

 R. Sai Kishore of Tamil Nadu during the practice session at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 4, 2017.

R. Sai Kishore of Tamil Nadu during the practice session at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 4, 2017.

R. Sai Kishore has already started playing Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu. The left-arm spinner made his mark in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) last year and finished the season’s leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets. In addition, it was his economy rate of 5.70 in the tournament that should keep the franchises interested. He was also the second highest wicket taker for Tamil Nadu during the 2016-17 50-over Deodhar Trophy. Chennai Super Kings would have noted his progress from close quarters. Will we see him in tandem with R.Ashwin, if they snap him up too?

K Gowtham

Off-spinner, Karnataka

 Karnataka's K. Gowtham celebrates a wicket on day three of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match between Karnataka and Mumbai at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on December 9, 2017.

Karnataka's K. Gowtham celebrates a wicket on day three of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match between Karnataka and Mumbai at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on December 9, 2017.

K. Gowtham is not a new face. The 29-year-old offspinner has been playing Ranji Trophy for Karnataka and was part of the Mumbai Indians setup but didn’t get a game. Gowtham’s 34 wickets in the Ranji season made him the fifth-highest wicket-taker. He is a useful batsman too, with a strike rate of 163 in 26 T20 games. Will Mumbai Indians get him back?

The base price for all players above has been fixed at Rs 20lakh

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