GET APP
Prithvi Shaw will lead Team India. (ICC)
1. Prithvi Shaw - India
The Indian U-19 captain will certainly be on the shortlist for many IPL teams. He has performed consistently at U-19 international level and also at the domestic level. He scored a century on his Ranji debut for Mumbai, and in nine first-class games he already has five centuries. In the ongoing U-19 World Cup, he started with a 94 against the Australians. Although he was unsold in the previous IPL auction, his performances this year have been impressive and one can expect him to be a part of one of the eight IPL teams.
2. Kamlesh Nagarkoti - India
Fast bowlers are always in high demand in the IPL and if you are someone who can cross 140kph regularly, then you are surely a hit. Considering he will be an uncapped Indian, one can expect Nagarkoti to generate a good amount of interest in the auction. Hailing from Rajasthan, Royals might well look at him as one of the local faces for the team. He has generated quite a buzz in the ongoing U-19 World Cup, with the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag praising him for his speed. Nagarkoti will certainly be on the radar for a few teams.
3. Rahul Tripathi - India
Rahul Tripathi had an impressive season in the previous IPL as he slammed 391 runs at a strike-rate of 146.44. He was one of the key reasons why Pune managed to reach the final in the previous edition. With all the teams looking to rebuild, opening slot will be among the crucial spots which they will look to fill in. Tripathi provides the perfect solution and considering the fact he is an uncapped Indian, it adds to his value. Tripathi was a safe fielder as well and he might well be set for a new IPL team this season.
4. Rashid Khan - Afghanistan
Certainly not an underdog anymore, Rashid Khan should be on every IPL teams mind. He is a proven match-winner and his ability to take wickets with both old and new ball makes him a must buy. It was a surprise that SRH didn't decide to retain him, considering he picked up 17 wickets at an economy rate of 6.62. He was hard to pick, and has been a consistent performer at the international level and also in other T20 leagues around the world. SRH might well look to play the RTM card on him but other teams will certainly make it tough for Hyderabad.
5. Jofra Archer - West Indies
You always expect one of the West Indians to be a star attraction in the auction and this time it might be Jofra Archer, who represented West Indies at the U-19 level but might well turn out for England at the senior level. He has been grabbing the eye balls at the BBL and before that in the Bangladesh Premier League. He was born in Barbados to an English father and Bajan mother, and hence started playing for Essex. He is a fast bowler and can hit the ball hard in the lower middle-order - something which a lot of IPL teams will be looking for. He is an athletic fielder as well and it will be interesting to see which IPL teams do their homework well and go for him!
cricketIPL auctionIPL Auction 2018Jofra ArcherKamlesh Nagarkotiprithvi shawRahul TripathiRashid Khan
First Published: January 23, 2018, 11:46 AM IST