IPL 2018: 5 uncapped players who could use this season as a launch pad to play for India

IPL has provided youngsters with opportunities to make a name for themselves. Players like Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya have used IPL as a platform to make a name for themselves. They have also gone on to play for India due to good performances in the IPL.

IPL is followed by cricket enthusiasts all over the world. Players from 13 countries have been part of IPL squads. Foreigners like Rashid Khan and Shaun Marsh have become popular due to IPL.

Here's a look at five players who could play for India due to good performances in the IPL this year.

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#5 Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill was one of the stars from India's victorious U-19 World Cup campaign

Shubman Gill is an 18-year-old who burst on to the scene during the U-19 World Cup in 2018 at New Zealand.

Gill is an aggressive batsman who always maintains a good strike rate. He was a vital cog in the team which won the U19 world cup in 2018. While he prefers to open, Gill can play in the middle order as well.

Although his List A strike rate of 85 isn't eye-catching, his strike rate in the youth ODIs is phenomenal.

He scored 372 runs at a strike rate of 112 in the U-19 world cup at New Zealand.

He was bought by KKR for Rs.1.8 Crores and has already drawn comparisons with Virat Kohli.

As Ajinkya Rahane is yet to cement his spot at No. 4 in the 50-over format, a good IPL season with the bat could bring Gill into contention for a place in India's middle or lower middle order.

#4 Khaleel Ahmed

Ahmed has been in good form off-late

Khaleel Ahmed is only a 20-year-old but he has already created waves. He is a left-arm pacer who has the ability to bowl at a speed ranging from 140 to 145 kmph.

Ahmed was a part of the Indian team that finished as runners-up in the 2016 U-19 World Cup.

He has also been a part of Delhi Daredevils in 2016 and 2017 which means he has been mentored by the likes of Zaheer Khan and Rahul Dravid.

Ahmed has been in good form of late. He picked up 17 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and 10 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

He was bought for a whopping Rs. 3 Crores by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL auction this year.

A good season could force the national selectors to select him in the near future.

#3 Mayank Agarwal

Agarwal has been in good form in the domestic circuit

Mayank Agarwal has been scoring runs with ease in recent times.

He has scored more than 2000 runs in the domestic season at a good strike rate across all formats. MSK Prasad, the chief selector stated that Agarwal is in the queue to play for India.

He had scored 1160 runs in the Ranji Trophy this season. Agarwal scored 258 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike rate of 145.

He also scored 753 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at a strike rate of 108.

He was roped in by KXIP for Rs.1 Crore. A good IPL season might just force the selectors to pick him for the test match against Afghanistan or for the T20 series against Ireland.

#2 Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan is one of the best wicketkeeper-batsman in India

Ishan Kishan is keeper batsman who plays for Jharkhand in the domestic circuit.

He had captained Jharkhand in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy and also captained the Indian team in the 2016 U-19 World Cup. Kishan is an aggressive opening batsman who has been consistent in the recent times.

Kishan was in prime form during the limited-over tournaments. He had scored 273 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Trophy at a strike of 145 and scored 313 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at a strike rate of 105.

He had started a bidding war in the IPL auction. In the end, it was MI who bagged Ishan Kishan for a whopping Rs. 6.2 Crores. With Rishabh Pant struggling at the International level, a good IPL season might elevate his chances of getting into the Indian team.

#1 Deepak Hooda

Hooda has the ability to finish games

Deepak Hooda is a batting all-rounder who captains Baroda in the domestic circuit. He has already proved that he is a dangerous batsman.

The fact that he can bowl helps his cause as India want a sixth bowler to give Hardik Pandya a cushion.

Hooda not only possesses the ability to finish off matches but can hit a six of the very first ball he faces.

He was in good form during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy in which he scored his runs at strike rates well above 150 and 110 respectively.

It wasn't just about the strike rates for him as had scored 226 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and 352 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

He was retained via the RTM in this year's auction for Rs.3.6 Crores by Sunrisers Hyderabad.

A good season with the bat and ball could give him a chance to play for India in place of Kedar Jadhav who has been in the team largely due to his part-time off-spin.