IPL 2018: 5 exciting players set to play their maiden IPL 

The IPL is currently one of the finest T20 leagues in the world. After 10 successful years of the tournament, every cricketer around the world wants a piece of the action.

A large number of players sign up for the auction every year and only a handful get picked by the franchises.

There are a number of exciting players from around the world who make their debut in the IPL each year and this year is no different.

We can look forward to stellar performances from these players as they would want to perform well on a platform as big as this and carve their own niche in world cricket.

As the excitement builds up, let us take a look at five exciting cricketers who will be making their debut in IPL 2018.

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#5 Moeen Ali (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Ali relies more on timing the ball than brute force

Moeen Ali is an English all-rounder who burst into the England cricket team, predominantly for his off-spin bowling after the surprise retirement of Graeme Swann.

He is an elegant batsman who relies more on timing the ball rather than brute force. With an outstanding economy of 7.38 and a more than respectable batting strike rate of 128 in T20 cricket, it's hard to classify Ali as a bowling or a batting all-rounder since he's equally good at both facets of the game.

Ali was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore at a bargain price of 1.70 crores. He could provide stability to the RCB batting line up that features hard-hitting batsmen who bludgeon the ball. Watch out for him!

#4 Evin Lewis (Mumbai Indians)

MI acquired Lewis for 3.8 crores

This young, left-hand batsman from Port of Spain, Trinidad can dispatch the ball to any part of the ground.

He has an incredible strike rate of 154.9 in T20Is and West Indies Cricket tout him to be the next Chris Gayle.

He will be seen in the jersey of the Mumbai Indians this year after they acquired his services for 3.80 crores in the auction.

He could form a potent opening combination with skipper Rohit Sharma or Ishan Kishan, depending on which batsman bats from the other end.

Once Lewis gets going, bowlers in the opposition will have a hard time trying to contain him as he plays both pace and spin bowling equally well.

It is fair to say that we can expect a couple of big knocks from this lad in IPL 2018!

#3 Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)

Archer could be a vital player for Rajasthan

After a fantastic campaign in the Big Bash League this year, Jofra Archer will be rearing to do well for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018.

A batting strike rate of 143.3 and a bowling average of 23.2 are things of folklore in the T20 format of the game.

Born to an English father and Bajan mother, Archer aspires to play for the England Cricket team someday.

After a huge bidding war at the IPL players auction, Rajasthan Royals managed to acquire his services at a whooping 7.20 crores.

His Sussex team mate Chris Jordan rates him very highly and hopes to be playing with him in the colours of England someday. Archer has an excellent yorker and his all-round capabilities are worth their weight in gold in this format of the game!

#2 Sandeep Lamichhane (Delhi Daredevils)

Lamichanne will be the first Nepali cricketer to play in the IPL

A lot of people were left surprised when this 17-year-old leg spinner from Nepal was picked by the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL players auction, at his base price of 20 lakh.

He is the first Nepali cricketer to be a part of an IPL franchise in the 11-year history of the tournament.

He has an excellent googly in his arsenal which he will hope to deploy in the IPL this year. Former Australian captain Michael Clarke noticed his talent in the Hong Kong T20 Blitz in May 2016 and invited him to play club cricket in Australia.

Clarke's fondness for the leg-spinner could have influenced Delhi Daredevils coach Ricky Ponting into going for him at the auction. Lamichanne is a player to look out for in IPL 2018!

#1 D'Arcy Short (Rajasthan Royals)

Short was the player of the tournament in this season's BBL

This batsman from Northern Australia was an absolute delight to watch in the recently concluded Big Bash League.

He played a huge role in taking the Hobart Hurricanes to the finals in which they fell short by 25 runs.

Short was declared the player of the series after finishing with 572 runs at an average of 57.20 and a high score of 122.

Short will be playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL this year, after being bought for 4 crores. With Steve Smith ruled out, the Rajasthan Royals will be banking on Short to give them good starts at the top of the order.

He could form a potent opening combination for the Royals, along with Ajinkya Rahane. Short is in fantastic form and will be a force to reckon with in IPL 2018!