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The mega-auction ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 is all set to take place on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru. Prior to the bidding process, the final list of players who will go under the hammer was released. This time around, as many as 590 cricketers will be part of the auction, which include 370 Indians and 220 overseas players.
Notably, IPL has always been a major platform for young and uncapped cricketers to showcase their talent. These players learn all the invaluable skills as they share the change room with the best in the business and get trained by top-quality coaches.
A similar story is expected to be scripted in the upcoming season as a fair number of names from the Indian squad in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup are part of the players’ auction list. Even in the previous two editions of the cash-rich league, the franchise had paid attention towards U-19 stars and picked the likes of Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Ravi Bishnoi and Yashaswi Jaiswal.
On that note, let’s have a look at five players from the current Indian Under-19 team who will be in demand at the mega-auction:
5.) Angkrish Raghuvanshi
Opening batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has already proved his dexterity at the big stage after showing utmost consistency in the ongoing U-19 World Cup in West Indies. The 16-year-old is one of the most consistent run-getters in the tournament. In five games so far, Raghuvanshi has scored 278 runs at a phenomenal average of 55.60.
He has scored one fifty and a century in the tournament to stay at the third spot among the leading run-scorers. His spectacular knock of 144 off 120 balls against Uganda had generated praise from all corners.
The IPL teams, who are looking for a solid Indian opener, will definitely think of getting him in the auction.
4.) Vicky Ostwal
In the shortest format and a world-class league like IPL, the impact of left-arm spinners is always quite crucial, and Vicky Ostwal brings that into the equation.
The left-arm orthodox spinner has been super impressive in the U-19 World Cup. Ostwal has so far taken 12 wickets in five matches at an average of 10.75, including one five-wicket haul against South Africa.
Notably, Ostwal is a popular name in the domestic circuit as well as he has given memorable performances in the U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, Vinoo Mankad Trophy, and the U-19 Challengers Cup. No wonder, the eyes will be on him in the upcoming auctions.
3.) Shaik Rasheed
Indian vice-captain Shaik Rasheed missed his hundred by a whisker in the ICC U-19 World Cup semi-final against Australia on Wednesday, but he impressed one and all with his mature and high-class innings.
Rasheed is known for playing big knocks, which is visible from his domestic records. In the Vijay Merchant Under-16 Trophy (in 2018/19), the right-handed batter had scored 674 runs in six games at a mind-boggling average of 168.5, including three centuries, with an unbeaten 200 being his best score.
Even in the recently finished Vinoo Mankad Under-19 trophy, Rasheed amassed 376 runs in six games at a remarkable average of 75.2, including a couple of hundreds. The Andhra Pradesh player is expected to attract franchises due to his consistency and high-scoring ability.
2.) Raj Bawa
There is no doubt that a quality all-rounder always plays a crucial role in any franchises’ golden run in the tournament, and Raj Angad Bawa has all the potential to become one such for IPL teams. He will become the hot property at the bidding event as Bawa can take wickets at regular intervals and hit some big shots to provide late fireworks.
In fact, Bawa hails from a sporting family as his grandfather, Tarlochan Bawa, was part of India’s gold medal-winning hockey team at the 1984 Olympics. Similarly, his father was a coach who trained none other than Indian superstar Yuvraj Singh.
Bawa had been quite exceptional in the ongoing U-19 World Cup. He has taken a brilliant four-wicket haul against South Africa U-19 and produced a jaw-dropping batting performance versus Uganda with his outstanding 162 off 108 deliveries to set the record for the highest score by an Indian in U-19 World Cup history.
1.) Yash Dhull
The most sought after player from the Under-19 team is their captain Yash Dhull, who will be on the radar of every franchise. Dhull recently played a captains’ knock and displayed a quality of determination in the recently-concluded semi-final clash against Australia.
Dhull star with the bat and scored a tremendous century to put India in a strong position before the bowlers did their job as India beat the Aussies to book a place in the competition’s final. Teams who are looking for one batter who could attack from the word go and form partnerships when the side is in trouble will go for Dhull.
Dhull has scored 212 runs from three matches at a breathtaking average of 106 and an impressive strike rate of close to 90. The right-handed batter had also proved his credentials in the 2021-22 Vinoo Mankad Trophy scoring 302 runs in five games for DDCA.
