IPL 2020: Looking at the franchises that India's U19 heroes will play for

While the recently-concluded final of the ICC U19 World Cup might not have sparked any celebrations for the Indian fans, the quality of talent pool on display calls for a toast of no lesser significance. Led by 19-year-old Priyam Garg, India's promising young brigade in South Africa was filled with skilful batsmen, wily spin bowlers, and an exciting pace pack; giving the fans plenty to look forward to.

After grabbing the limelight in the U19 World Cup, these fledgeling talents are soon expected to be the talking points in the upcoming edition of the IPL. And given the kind of talent that has burst out of the domestic T20 league, the youngsters will be itching to make the most of the opportunity and announce themselves as the world watches on.

Here's whom India's U19 heroes will play for in IPL 2020.

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5. Akash Singh - Rajasthan Royals

Akash Singh

A left-arm pacer who can trouble the batsmen with his discipline and seam movement, Akash Singh can prove to be a handful on bowler-friendly surfaces. The 17-year-old first made the news by picking up 10 wickets for no runs in an open tournament played in Jaipur.

Coming to this year's U19 World Cup, Singh succeeded in catching the eye with his impressive display of seam bowling. Picking up 7 wickets at a miserly economy of 3.81, Singh stood as a crucial member of India's pace battery in the tournament. The youngster's spell of 3/30 against Australia in the quarterfinal was particularly impressive and helped India clean up the tail in quick succession.

At the IPL 2020 auction, Akash Singh was picked by the Rajasthan Royals for his base price of INR 20 lakh, giving him the opportunity to work alongside the likes of Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, and Jos Buttler among other heavyweights in the team. Interestingly, he was also the youngest buy at the auctions. Come the mega event in March and the local lad will be raring to prove his worth with the ball in hand.

4. Priyam Garg - Sunrisers Hyderabad

Priyam Garg

Priyam Garg is currently one of the batting mainstays in the middle-order of several domestic teams. Leading the Men in Blue at the U19 World Cup this year, the youngster from Uttar Pradesh had high expectations riding on him. While the 19-year-old couldn't quite set the tournament on fire in the limited number of opportunities that he got, Garg accounted for a well-made fifty against Sri Lanka in India's opening game of the tournament.

Entering the IPL 2020 auction with a base price of INR 20 lakh, Garg saw Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab take on each other in a bid to rope him in. As the bidding war ended eventually, it was the franchise from Hyderabad that shelled out INR 1.9 crore to make the promising batting talent their own. Priyam Garg, who would soon be sharing the dressing room with the likes of David Warner and Kane Williamson, will be keen on adding substance to the Orange Army's middle-order if presented with a chance.

3. Kartik Tyagi - Rajasthan Royals

Kartik Tyagi

A swift action, quite reminiscent of his bowling idol Brett Lee, makes for a beautiful sight when Kartik Tyagi runs in to bowl. Spotted by Suresh Raina and Praveen Kumar during his early playing days, the speedster is one of the brightest prospects in store for India.

Picking up 11 wickets in the recently-concluded U19 World Cup, Kartik Tyagi was instrumental in composing India's road to the finale. The speedgun's standout performance came against the Australians in the quarterfinal when he scalped four crucial wickets to power India through to the semis. Making the experience all the more memorable is the fact that Tyagi has been included in the ICC's team of the tournament.

Tyagi's good reputation in the domestic circuit proved a blessing for him at the IPL auction that was held last year. A bid that was started off by the Kings XI Punjab at his base price of INR 20 lakh, ended in the favour of the Rajasthan Royals, who bagged the exciting quickie for INR 1.30 crore.

2. Ravi Bishnoi - Kings XI Punjab

Ravi Bishnoi

Leg spinners have always had an air of cool about them, haven't they? In what seems to be the latest addition to the list, the Indian selectors are likely to keepng a close eye on Ravi Bishnoi, the 19-year-old crafty spinner from Rajasthan.

From picking crucial wickets in the middle stages of an innings to almost single-handedly bowling India to an unlikely win in the grand finale against Bangladesh, Ravi Bishnoi's leg-spin has been the talk of the town for the past few weeks. Possessing an ability to bamboozle the batsmen by spinning the ball both ways, Bishnoi scalped 17 wickets to stand as the tournament's highest wicket-taker and thereby earn a spot in the ICC's coveted team of the tournament this year.

At the IPL 2020 auction, Bishnoi saw Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians go head-to-head in a bid to acquire him. In the end, it was the Kings from Punjab who shelled out INR 2 crore to add the young talent to their side.

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal - Rajasthan Royals

Yashasvi Jaiswal

Arguably the biggest find of the tournament for India, Yashasvi Jaiswal has one heart-touching story to narrate. From living in a tent and selling pani puri in Mumbai to being adjudged the Man of the Tournament at the ICC U19 World Cup, the 19-year-old has seen fortunes change in a span of few years.

Jaiswal was quite the rock of the Indian batting line-up in the tournament. Getting the team off to good starts in different games, the southpaw played a key role in essaying the team’s success story in South Africa. The youngster’s temperament of rising to the occasion in the knockout stages too made the heads roll. Amassing 400 runs in 6 games, at an incredible average of 133.3, Jaiswal ended his campaign as the highest run-getter of the competition, and also earning a spot in the ICC’s team of the tournament.

As expected, the dashing left-hander invited a fierce battle at the IPL 2020 auction with Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab, and Rajasthan Royals throwing in bids to purchase him. The bidding-war came to a close with the Royals once again having the last laugh and acquiring Jaiswal for INR 2.4 crore.