IPL 2016: 5 expensive domestic players who are yet to play a game in the tournament

The cash-rich Indian Premier League has made the fortunes of many young Indian cricketers over the years with its fat pay cheques and lucrative opportunities. It has also worked as a platform for the budding Indian cricketers to showcase their talent in front of the cricketing fraternity.

Franchises knowing the importance of the domestic players in the IPL have often shelled out a large amount of money for the rising stars of domestic cricket. In the players’ auction for the IPL 2016, they followed the trend buying some uncapped domestic players with some colossal amounts of money.

However, to everyone’s surprise, some of the players who received lucrative contracts are yet to play a game in the ongoing IPL 2016. Well, the reasons are best known to the franchises, but we have tried to find those 5 most expensive domestic players who are yet to feature in the IPL 2016. We are following a descending order in terms of the money they got.

Nathu Singh

The name Nathu Singh caught everyone’s attention when he was snapped by Mumbai Indians for a whopping INR 3.2 crores in this year’s IPL auction. However, the young fast bowler from Rajasthan burst into the limelight with figures of 7 for 87 on debut against Delhi in Ranji Trophy 2015-16.

After his blazing performance, he earned a place in the Board President XI's squad for a two-day warm-up fixture against the visiting South African team. Stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir were heavily impressed with the young man’s talent as well.

However, the speedster is yet to play a game in the ongoing IPL 2016. Maybe his team Mumbai Indians, who are known to nurture young talent, have other ideas in mind regarding the young pace sensation.

Ankit Rajpoot

The 22-year-old seamer who hails from Uttar Pradesh was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for an astronomical sum of INR 1.5 crores. The young bowler was rated highly by former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad who was the state's bowling coach for two seasons.

Ankit played for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2013 and he dismissed Ricky Ponting in his very first over he bowled.

Ankit’s performance in the 2016 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's domestic T20 competition, where he was the tournament's third-highest wicket taker with 14 wickets at an average of 14.21 might have propelled the Kolkata franchise to go for him in the auction.

However, he hasn’t yet played a game in the ongoing tournament and his chances of getting a game in this year’s IPL are looking bleak as KKR is looking a settled unit now.

Kishore Kamath

The 21-year-old young leg-spinner and middle order batsman was bought by the Mumbai Indians in this year’s auction for a whopping 1.4 crores. The young leggie came into the scene when he represented Hubli Tigers in the 2015 Karnataka Premier League.

The young all-rounder also performed well in the KSCA first division league for Malleswaram Gymkhana. His ten scalps in seven matches at an economy of less than six runs an over earned him an invitation to attend the trials organised by Royal Challengers Bangalore in January 2016.

However, in the auction, Mumbai Indians had the last laugh as they bought the youngster for a value which was almost 14 times his base price of INR 10 lakhs. He is yet to feature in the IPL 2016 but is surely someone to watch out for whenever he plays.

Eklavya Dwivedi

The wicketkeeper-batsman made a heavy fortune in the auction as he was bought by Gujarat Lions for a hefty sum of INR 1 crore. He made his first appearance for Uttar Pradesh in List A cricket, in the 2008 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Over time, he established himself in UP's middle order, and also became the side's first-choice wicketkeeper.

In the 2016 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which was brought forward for young players to display their talents before the IPL auction, Dwivedi was UP's highest run-scorer with 258 runs in nine matches at 51.60.

The performance proved critical for Dwivedi as he got the lucrative contract in the cash-rich IPL. However, he is yet to feature for his franchise in the ongoing IPL 2016.

Praveen Dubey

The 22-year-old leg-spinner, Praveen Dubey was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 35 lakh. The young leggie broke into the Karnataka List-A side in the 2015-16 season, after impressive performances in the 20-over Karnataka Premier League.

He picked up seven wickets in six matches for the KPL team Hubli Tigers at an economy rate of 5.90 in the 2014-15 edition of the KPL. Dubey did better in the next season as he took eight wickets in nine KPL matches for Belgavi Panthers at an economy rate of 6.89.

Given RCB’s dismal performances with the ball in the IPL 2016, Praveen Dubey might just make the playing XI in any of the upcoming matches.