IPL 2019: Top 5 uncapped players to watch out for

The IPL was conceived with the notion to bring the biggest celebrities under one fatty, rich umbrella through a unique allotment process-auctioning. But, what the game witnessed was a proliferation of unknown domestic cricketers playing eye to eye with global legends. More than IPL flooding BCCI's financial pockets, it heralded a new revolution for the country's domestic cricket circuit, bringing to the light more prodigies than ever; somewhere easing the task of national selectors to find the true champions for the limited formats of the game.

IPL hence has been a unique story of unsung heroes, dark horses, overnight stars, and a magnanimous learning arena for youngsters. With fast cash being the click bait in addition to the ultimate dream of playing for the nation, IPL has contributed to bring up and nurture the next generation of cricketers, only toppled in significance by the Ranji Trophy.

Be it Manish Pandey's century that made him the first Indian batsman to get to the three figures in the tourney, the mystery spin of Kuldeep and Chahal, the meteoric rise of the immensely promisingSanju Samson, Kashmir's lone warrior Parvez Rasool, Krunal Pandya, KC Kariappa, Iqbal Abdullah, Paul Valthaty, DK's 2nd life, and even R Ashwin, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishab Pant, Naman Ojha; the list is never-ending. True, some have embellished the Indian team and some were one-two season wonders, but no doubt, never before domestic players have received exposure to such a degree. Yes, that includes the plethora of international A-team matches or similar. IPL has been the shortest route to success and the biggest learning platform for India's next generation of cricketing talents.

The auction process has also resonated with the rising prominence and quality of Indian cricketers, be it those playing for the country or under BCCI's scanner. What was once a common perception that fancy overseas cricketers would be the ones to lure away the major chunk of franchisee wealth, has been effectively broken since the past few auctions.

The celebrated decision to put uncapped players on the bidding table exemplified the scenario. Multiple scenes of team owners putting up their hands in a frenzy to bid for uncapped players and on the other while, putting on a stony silence for established overseas legends have been quite common. Uncapped, unknown players have gone for millions whereas renowned international guns have remained unsold after two, three election rounds.

The latest, biggest name to encounter this was none other than Brendon McCullum! Imagine a T20 tourney where the man who immortalized IPL's inauguration history with his legendary innings remains unsold. This is in stark contrast when an unknown Varun Chakraborty becoming one of the most expensive players in the IPL auction history. Never ever heard the name before, right? Yes, that's exactly the case.

Clearly, young blood, form, and promise to gunfire in all departments of the shortest format of the game had triumphed over name and glory. In a renaissance for Indian cricket, IPL has effectively transcended from being the largest mega star magnet to the biggest megastar maker in the cricketing universe.

Hence, that begs the question. Who will be the one, or the ones to watch out in the upcoming IPL 2019? Will Varun live up to his exorbitant price tag or will again one 20 lakh low profile gully genius become the next Indian heartthrob? Here's our compilation of some uncapped players to definitely watch out in the upcoming IPL.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti (KKR)

Kamlesh Nagarkoti

The pace sensation who grabbed all eyeballs while playing in the 2018 U-19 World Cup for his blistering pace is the one to certainly watch out for. Having made his List A debut for Rajasthan just a year prior in the 2016 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he was a hotcake in last year’s IPL auctions. Ultimately it was KKR who managed to bag the teenage sensation for a record 3.2 crores!

No doubt, having garnered huge limelight from fans and legends alike, he was one of the biggest prospects in last year’s IPL. However, to the dismay of the millions watching the richest cricket tourney in the globe, he incurred a foot injury that ruled him out of the entire tournament.

A year after, KKR had been wise enough to not let go of the talented young pacer! Fit and fine this season, Kamlesh Nagarkoti will be sternly looking to erupt fire on the pitch and justify both his price tag as well as the hype around him. Are we looking at the next Indian success story with the white or red ball? This IPL will sure give the answer.

Shivam Dube (RCB)

Shivam Dube

Coming from the city of the greatest cricketer of all time—Sachin Tendulkar, Shivam Dube flabbergasted the cricket world when Royal Challengers Bangalore went all out in the auction war to grab him for 5 crores, making him one of the players to belong in the highest price bracket.

Praised none other by Sunil Gavaskar himself in a newspaper article, Shivam Dube is a gifted all-rounder who is a lefty batsman and a gifted right arm medium pace bowler. Having made his List-A debut for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy two years ago, he etched his name in the minds of cricket pundits with some slog hitting at Mumbai T20 domestic league where he hit Pravin Tambe 5 sixes in one year.

He duplicated the same in a Ranji Trophy match against Baroda just a day prior to the auctions. Overall, since his Ranji debut last season, he has scored a staggering 454 runs that include 2 centuries and 5 half-centuries and has claimed 21 wickets. The young star all-rounder sure should be emphatic to drag his swashbuckling domestic form into the IPL and justify his huge price tag!

Prabhsimran Singh (Kings XI Punjab)

Prabh Simran Singh

This 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman from Patiala grabbed all starlight when the Kings XI Punjab snatched him from a severe bidding battle at a towering price of 4.8 crores. The fact that he had never played a first-class match only exemplifies his talent.

Idolizing Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist, the young man first garnered attention when he smashed 298 runs in just 301 balls against Amristar in the semi-final of the Punjab U-23 Inter-District Cricket Tournament earlier this year. He also drove a steamroller in last year’s Cooch Behar Trophy by amassing an astonishing 547 runs for Punjab which included 3 magnificent centuries. Having already captained the Indian U-19 team earlier, he has been on the radar of multiple franchisees till Punjab finally grabbed him.

Described as a naturally explosive batsman with the ability to score rapidly, Prabhsimran is rightfully a new sensation after the likes of Sarfaraz Khan, Prithvi Shaw, and more. It would certainly be a delight to watch this sensation coming on to play in this year’s IPL.

Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians)

ECB XI v India A - Tour Match

A prodigiously talented left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman coming from the sands of none other than Jharkhand, Ishan Kishan was bought last year by the Mumbai Indians for a staggering 6.2 crores after one of the most intense bidding wars on the auction table that season.

One of the retained players by Mumbai Indians, Ishan Kishan first came to limelight when he was picked to lead the Indian U-19 team in the 2016 U-19 World Cup at Dhaka. In the same year, he scored 273 runs against Delhi for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy. It still is the highest score by any Jharkhand player in the tournament.

Last IPL season, he had been a mixed season for Ishan Kishan. While he amassed almost 300 impressive runs and scored three fifties in the process, his talent certainly surpasses what this result shows.

Ishan Kishan would certainly be looking forward to extending his batting figures this season and unleash his true potential. Moreover, having played for multiple junior Indian teams, he would be hungry for a taste of the senior scheme of things

Varun Chakravarty (Kings XI Punjab)

KINGS XI won the auction battle for Varun

Last but not the least, how could this list end without the most priced player of this season’s IPL auction. What started from a meager base price culminated into a surprising bidding war from multiple franchisees till the Kings XI Punjab grabbed him at a mouth-watering 8.4 crores.

Having made his List A debut for Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare trophy this year, he has been dubbed as the next ‘mystery spinner’ and was the highest wicket-taker for Tamil Nadu in the tournament with 22 dismissals from a mere nine matches. Consequently, he featured in the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu the same season.

Will he be able to justify his exorbitant price tag and the faith Kings XI Punjab has bestowed on him this season? Or will be simply another auction mis-hit like KC Kariappa? IPL, through its unique confluence of cricketers, is a more unpredictable tournament than any other these young uncapped cricketers have ever encountered. This season, the eyes would surely be on this talented cricketer as he unleashes his mystery spin before the world’s best T20 specialists.