IPL 2018 auction: 5 Indian players who can lead to a bidding war

The IPL auction for 2018 will take place on 27th and 28th of January, and many team managers have almost assuredly already begun the vetting and selection process for the ideal players to target at the event. This year's auction is set to be rife with surprise, as most of the players will go under the hammer.

The spotlight will be on the few big names retained by key franchises. However, since there are only four slots for foreign players, the choices in that market will be limited, if pricey. The national players list affords many more options, so there is a comparably vast spending potential in the domestic market.

Here are five Indian players who could easily start a bidding war:

Jaydev Unadkat:

Unadkat's star in the cricket world has been on the rise for the last couple of years. In the IPL, Unadkat was the second highest wicket-taker, after Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 24 scalps to his name. He managed this feat even with the limitation of having played two fewer games than Kumar. Undakat is quite the economical player.

The 26-year-old may not have played many matches for India, but his stellar performance on the domestic circuit is something which is sure to increase his value in the eyes of any team. He was a part of a three-match T-20 series against Sri Lanka, where he put up some exemplary numbers: 1/7, 1/22 and 2/15. He recieves top marks when it comes to the business of taking wickets on powerplays, while managing to effectively economize at the same time.

Likely Bidders: Delhi Daredevils, Chennai Super Kings.

Ravichandran Ashwin:

R Ashwin's years of experience could help inflate his price tag.

Though the rise of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav has caused him some difficulty in making it into the Indian team's 'playing eleven', his long experience with the game coupled with his skill at taking wickets and ability as a batsman will nevertheless make him a compelling addition to any team. You might say that his veteran status and well-seasoned experience are the standout attributes of his entire professional portfolio.

Ashwin has scored roughly 253 runs in 37 innings, along with taking 100 wickets in 111 matches of the IPL. His IPL stats are something that will make every franchise owner try to chase him down with high opening bids. In the last IPL auction, Ashwin was noticeably absent due to an unfortunate injury, but this year he will be a chart-topper, ripe for the picking when bidding starts.

Teams who would look to get him: Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians.

Krunal Pandya:

"Man of the Match" - 2017 finals

When it comes to all-rounders, who can forget the Pandya brothers? Previously, both men played for the Mumbai Indians, but in 2018, the Indians failed to retain them as a pair. So Krunal will be listed when this year's auction commences.

Krunal Pandya joined the IPL in 2016, after being bought for ₹2 crore, making his debut against the Gujarat Lions. Even in this first match, his consistency became apparent. Where winning games is concerned, he is there for the team with both bat and ball; his whopping 86 runs on 37 balls against the Delhi Daredevils was one of his finest achievements in the IPL so far.That he was also the "Man of the Match" in the 2017 finals stands testament to his skills.

Krunal could hit it big in this IPL auction, because many franchises have eyed him for years and finally have a genuine crack at him. His good stats and performances in first-class cricket have shown him to be more experienced on the domestic pitches, which makes him a more reliable player. All-rounders are key members of any team, especially in the shorter format, allowing Krunal to fetch a mightier sum than other big names.

Teams who would look to get him: Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals.

Yuvraj Singh:

Since the Sunrisers Hyderabad did not opt to retain veteran Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, there will be many franchises who will try to snag him. It's not the first time that Singh has gone under the hammer; he has previously played for three different IPL teams. This, his fourth time at auction, is all set to be a true record-breaker, smashing through even his own previous maximum bids.

After a four-year hiatus, Yuvraj reappeared in spectacular style in the 2017 England series, making a splash by registering his career-best ODI knock against England. He was also on the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, but failed therein to perform to his own high standards, being subsequently dropped as a result. Ignoring that, and shining a spotlight on his truly remarkable performance last year, with 252 runs in 12 innings and an average of 28, we see a man who is really worth his weight. Focusing similarly on his domestic play, the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament, for example, he shines as an exemplary cricketer indeed, having scored 85 runs in two matches, with a one-half century in the suspenseful victory against Delhi. In total, he has played around 120 matches in the IPL and has scored 2,587 runs with an average of 25.61 and a strike rate of 131.18. A real all-around MVP.

Teams who would look to get him: Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders.

Gautam Gambhir:

Gambhir would be the men to keep an eye on.

Being both a stable opener and consistent leader, Gambhir has a completely well-rounded skill set. He played for the Delhi Daredevils in his first three seasons, but became a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2011, leading them to IPL victories in 2012 and 2014. Gambhir's rich experience, both domestically and interantionally, make him one of the most influential players in IPL history. Despite this, the Knight Riders declined to keep him on, and he will be listed at auction along with the rest.

Gambhir's statistics are sure to make any team's management salivate, chomping at the bit to dispense their millions. He has scored 4,132 runs in just 148 matches so far in IPL with an average of 31.78. With numbers like those, every franchise would be eager to add him to their squad.

Teams who would look to get him: Delhi Daredevils, Chennai Super Kings.