5 stars from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy who could go for big bucks in the IPL auction

Modified Feb 18, 2017 17:06 IST

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 25: Irfan Pathan bowls during the Karbonn Smart CLT20 Semi Final match between bizhub Highveld Lions and Delhi Daredevils at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on October 25, 2012 in Durban, South Africa.(Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images/Getty Images) — Irfan Pathan

#3 Vishnu Vinod

Vishnu Vinod (Image Courtesy: Kerala Cricket Association)

This 23-year-old is creating quite a buzz before the Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions this year. Vinod missed out in his first game in the tournament but then smashed a 20-ball 36 against West Zone in a chase to get his side off to a flier.

He continued his striking form today where he again tonked his way to a 15-ball 31 before getting out caught.

Prior to this tournament, he was quite brilliant for Kerala in the Inter-State T20s. Overall from 10 T20s, he has scored 307 runs at 34.11 with a strike rate of 138.91.

He was also the fifth-highest run-getter in the Inter-State T20s with 199 at 49.75 and a strike rate of 164.46. The right-hander smashed 14 sixes in the tournament, more than any other batsman.

Now you know, why he is the talk of the town, and why bidders can go to war to rope in the youngster.