IPL 2016: The uncapped Indian XI

Uncapped players seemed to have hit the jackpot in the IPL auction this year. Most of the franchises seemed to be anxiously interested in young, uncapped Indian players, with an eye, perhaps, on developing their talent.There are two ways of looking at it. If the IPL can give a platform to young, budding talents to further their cause, then there's nothing like it. But eyebrows are bound to be raised when absurd sums of money are dished out for players virtually no one knows about.Will these young talents be able to use this opportunity to climb the rungs to stardom? Or will the burden of expectations be too much for them?Based on this year's auction, here is the INR 33.4-crore Indian uncapped players' XI. How many of them, do you think, would justify their huge price tags?

#1 Eklavya Dwivedi (INR 1 crore)

Dwivedi was bought by the Gujarat Lions for INR 1 crore

Not many have heard of Eklavya Dwivedi though he was part of the now disbanded Pune Warriors set up. He even represented them in 2012 but that he has faded from public consciousness suggests that he did not quite make a mark in the first place.

Dwivedi, who also dons the wicket-keeping gloves, has been in good form of late where he has turned into one of the batting mainstays for Uttar Pradesh at the first-class level. His 35-ball 49 in a close domestic T20 match against Delhi last month might have turned the stakes in his favour at the auction.

He had also played a crucial knock of a 53-ball 89 at the very beginning of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Gujarat Lions snapped him up for Rs. 1 crore which is five times his base price of Rs. 20 lakhs.

#2 Aditya Tare (INR 1.2 crores)

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Aditya Tare, the current captain of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy side, is a name to contend with, especially in Mumbai cricketing circles. Though Parthiv Patel's good performances have edged him out of the Mumbai side recently, he is still in much demand amongst the franchises.

Last year, he guided the side to the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy leading from the front. He amassed 311 runs from 8 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for Rs. 1.2 crore in the IPL auction this year. It would be interesting to see if Tare can replicate his domestic form in the high-octane tournament this year.

#3 Karun Nair (INR 4 crores)

Nair was snapped up by the Delhi Daredevils for INR 4 crores

Though he came into the auction with a base price of Rs. 10 lakhs, Karun Nair was expected to create an intense bidding war. Nair has made a name for himself in the Indian domestic circuit for playing good, settled knocks.

In the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy final, he had scored an imposing 328, batting Tamil Nadu out of the game.

His IPL track-record is also promising, to say the least. For the Rajasthan Royals, Nair has scored 511 runs at a strike-rate of 135.54. In the 2014 season itself, he had scored 330 runs for the RR.

The Delhi Daredevils splurged the cash on him, buying him for Rs. 4 crores in this auction.

#4 Rishabh Pant (INR 1.9 crores)

Rishabh Pant now holds the record for the fastest fifty in under 19 cricket

India's U-19 skipper who is currently playing the U-19 World Cup has recently been considered to be a shining future prospect by many. The dashing left-handed batsman, who has tried to model himself on Adam Gilchrist, has been in sensational form in the U-19 World Cup.

From 5 matches in the tournament so far, Pant has amassed 266 runs at a healthy average of 53.20. He has been one of the batting mainstays for India, especially because the captain Ishan Kishan has been going through a lean patch.

Pant started out with a base price of Rs. 10 lakhs at the auction but was eventually bought by the Delhi Daredevils at Rs. 1.9 crores.

#5 Kishore Kamath (INR 1.4 crores)

Kamath was a part of the Hubli Tigers, the runners-up in the 2015 KPL

Known as a handy leg-spinner and a middle-order batsman, Kishore Kamath impressed with his good performances for the Hubli Tigers in the 2015 Karnataka Premier League.

Yet, his surprise and joy knew no bounds when the Mumbai Indians ultimately bought him for Rs. 1.4 crores a price which 14 times his base of Rs. 10 lakh.

Before his good performances for the Hubli Tigers, Kamath had put in a strong performance for Malleswaram Gymkhana in the KSCA first division league. Having picked up 10 wickets in 7 matches at an economy of less than 6, he was invited for the trials organised by the RCB last month.

But he would not have expected to be bought for such an outlandish sum of money.

#6 Krunal Pandya (INR 2 crores)

Krunal Pandya would look to emulate his younger brother's success in the IPL

Elder brother to Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya stunned the cricketing world when he was snapped up by the Mumbai Indians for Rs. 2 crores in the IPL auction this year. Pandya, who has played List A and T20 cricket has a good record at the domestic level.

Having scored 167 runs at a strike-rate of 138.01 and picked up 16 wickets at an average of 16.18, Pandya is known as a promising all-rounder at the domestic T20 level. But the most startling thing is that he is yet to make his first-class debut.

If you combine that with the fact that he last played a competitive match in March last year, and has since been sidelined with a prolonged phase of injury, it is even more surprising that MI decided to shell out a whopping Rs. 2 crores for his services.

#7 Deepak Hooda (INR 4.2 crores)

Hooda's hitting prowess has already been witnessed in the last IPL season

Deepak Hooda's good performances in the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2014 had not gone unnoticed by the IPL franchises. He had claimed a five-for and backed that up with a quick 22 against Pakistan in the tournament. Highly impressed, the Rajasthan Royals chose to purchase him that season.

It was while playing for the RR that Deepak Hooda had his first brush with fame. He made a name for himself as a clean-hitter of the cricket ball and was even touted to be a potential finisher for India in the future. He amassed 151 runs in the 2015 IPL season at a strike-rate of over 150.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad have now purchased him for Rs. 4.2 crores. Only time will tell if he can justify his huge price tag.

#8 Pawan Negi (INR 8.5 crores)

Negi has done well in the past for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL

Pawan Negi has been going through the time of his life. After being selected in the India T20I squad for ICC World T20, he has been snapped up by the Delhi Daredevils for an astronomical amount. Negi, who often operated as the third spinner in the CSK squad last season, impressed one and all with his frugal spells and big-hitting ability.

Negi caused a huge bidding war and he was ultimately bought by DD for a whopping Rs. 8.5 crores. He trumped the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik and emerged as the most expensive Indian player in the IPL 9 auctions.

#9 Murugan Ashwin (INR 4.5 crores)

Ashwin has been purchased by RPSG for INR 4.5 crores

“It is just an unreal feeling, I am really really happy and I want to thank RPSG for having the faith in me. Honestly, I was not bothered about the money, but the faith shown by Pune has given me a lot of confidence,” said an overwhelmed Murugan Ashwin speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda.

Ravi Ashwin is no longer the only Ashwin now. The young bowler from Tamil Nadu who is his namesake recently picked up 10 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy averaging a wicket every 14 balls. He was snapped up by Rising Pune Supergiants at Rs. 4.5 crores.

#10 Nathu Singh (INR 3.2 crores)

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Nathu Singh came into the IPL auction with a big reputation. No doubt, he has only vindicated the hype around him by laughing his way to the bank. In the auction this year, the Mumbai Indians acquired his services by settling at a winning bid of Rs. 3.2 crores.

Gautam Gambhir had reportedly said about him, "This boy is good, please keep an eye on him."

He had also added that Nathu Singh was potentially an 'India material.' He continued his good performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he troubled batsmen with his pace and swing.

With India in dire need of good fast bowlers, Nathu Singh might well be one for the future. It would be interesting to see how he performs in this IPL after getting this big-money contract.

#11 Ankit Rajpoot (INR 1.5 crores)

Rajpoot was a part of the CSK squad for the 2013 and 2014 seasons

Uttar Pradesh has over the years given the Indian team some amazing pacers in the form of Praveen Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. True to its tradition, the state seems to have thrown up another emerging talent in Ankit Rajpoot.

Rajpoot has picked up 70 wickets in 19 first-class matches and has been praised by Venkatesh Prasad, the state's bowling coach. He was also a key member of the Uttar Pradesh side that won the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy last month. Rajpoot bowled well in the final coming away with figures of 3 for 30.

He was part of the CSK set-up in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The Kolkata Knight Riders surprised everyone by doling out Rs. 1.5 crores for him at the auction this year.