IPL Auction: With teams thinking long-term, youngsters could benefit | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Every year the IPL auctions become a springboard to the glitzy world of Indian cricket for unheralded players. The bids rise faster than a taxi meter and lives change in a matter of minutes. Over the weekend, expect some jaw-dropping bids for little-know cricketers who have been quietly slogging away in the domestic circuit.
With so many established international and IPL cricketers up for sale, these cricketers may not match the dizzy numbers but they will be inviting strong bids. What goes in favour of these boys is the fact that most IPL franchises are going in with long-term plan to build their teams.
“Youngsters will be in demand because this auction is all about a three-year plan. The idea is to create a core for the coming years,” is the common sentiment of the franchises.

UNDER-19 STARS
Most eyeballs will be eager to see how India’s U-19 world champions fare. Yash Dhull, Raj Angad Bawa, Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Vicky Ostwal have been stars in the victorious U-19 World Cup campaign a week back. But it will be interesting to see how much the franchises are willing to spend on these boys who have negligible experience of playing at the senior level.
Delhi Capitals have branded Dhull as a product coming out of their academy in Delhi. He has done little to justify his power-hitting.

Hangargekar has kept his base price at Rs 30 lakhs, which is Rs 10 lakhs more than his mates. This indicates he had already been approached by fanchises. Bawa, being a seam-bowling allrounder, could be someone franchises will be willing to groom.
However, one must not be surprised if Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad bags a bulky offer. His ability to hit big with the bat is an added advantage.
SCOUTING DOMESTIC TALENT
The franchises have got a robust scouting team and it seems the obsession with the Big Bash League is on the wane. The domestic season was played in strict bio-bubbles but the scouts found a corner at venues and observed the talent. Multiple rounds of trials were squeezed in before the third wave of the pandemic hit India.

A dearth of Indian wicketkeeping options could raise the stocks of Kerala’s Vishnu Vinod and Punjab’s Prabhsimran Singh. Karnataka’s Abhinav Manohar has shown his mettle with consistent lusty blows with the bat in crunch situations.
19-year-old Mayank Yadav from Delhi has got a few eyebrows raised with his ability to bowl at over 140 km/hr. U-25 tournaments have been closely followed.
Ayush Badoni, who has struggled to break into Delhi’s senior team, has been hopping trials across franchises and has earned their interest. Rajasthan’s Mahipal Lomror too could get some good bids.