IPL 2019: Best Debutant XI

IPL is one of those tournaments that provide ample opportunities to young talented players to make a name for themselves on the big stage. While it is a chance for the Indian domestic players to prove their mettle and put their name in the reckoning for a place in the national side, the international players get the opportunity to play in an extremely competitive environment.

A good show in the IPL enhances the reputation of overseas players, and more often than not turns them into improved cricketers.

IPL teams have always been keen on including fresh faces to change things up, and they do not hesitate to put in big bucks in the process. This year was no different as unheard of names like Shivam Dubey, Varun Chakravarthy, Prabhsimran Singh and Prayas Ray Barman were sold for crores. Overseas players like Shimron Hetmyer, Nicolas Pooran and Sam Curran also made millions at the auction.

Even though all these players are immensely talented, they will have the baggage of the big price tag. Nonetheless, they have the ability to light up the IPL with their sparkling performances, and will be the most attention-grabbing cricketers in the 12th edition of the cash rich league.

Here is the best debutants XI for IPL 2019.

#1 Johnny Bairstow (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

EnteBairstow has been in fabulous form of later caption

After getting ignored for years by the IPL teams, Jonny Bairstow finally got picked at the auction for IPL 2019. The England wicket-keeper batsman has been in scintillating form of late and is the third highest run-scorer of 2018 in ODIs, only behind Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

The Sunrisers will be more than happy to have someone of Bairstow's pedigree in their squad. Apart from his swashbuckling batting at the top of the order, the Englishman will also provide an extra option of a wicket-keeper to the franchise.

#2 Anmolpreet Singh (Mumbai Indians)

Anmolpreet during the 2016 U19 World Cup

Anmolpreet Singh was bought at the auction by Mumbai Indians for Rs. 80 lakh. The Punjab batsman was part of the India U19 team that made it to the final of the Under-19 World Cup in 2016.

Even though Anmolpreet does not have much T20 experience behind him, he comes across as a technically sound batsman and has an impressive List A record. He was part of the India A squad that toured New Zealand, and scored 71 runs in the last unofficial ODI.

#3 Joe Denly (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Denly made a successful comeback in England's T20 side

Kolkata Knight Riders snapped up Joe Denly for Rs. 1 crore at the auction. Denly is a useful T20 cricketer and has been a consistent performer in England.

He made a comeback to the England side in the recently concluded T20 series against Sri Lanka. Apart from his batting ability, the 32-year-old is a handy leg-spinner and will be mighty effective on the slow Indian pitches.

#4 Shimron Hetmyer (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Hetmyer raises his bat after hitting a ton against India

After playing some stunning knocks for West Indies in the recent past, Shimron Hetmyer was bound to trigger a bidding war at the auction. The youngster thrashed the Indian bowlers in the ODI series in India a month ago, and caught the attention of the franchises.

The belligerent middle-order batsman has the ability to change the complexion of the match with his explosive batting. Hetmyer will be part of the revamped Royal Challengers Bangalore batting line-up.

After a poor show in IPL 2018, RCB released all the batsmen in the side except Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. With Hetmyer on board, RCB can hope for a better performance this time around.

#5 Sherfane Rutherford (Delhi Capitals)

Rutherford was impressive in the CPL

Sherfane Rutherford is another Caribbean cricketer who went for big bucks at the auction. The 20-year-old was bought by Delhi Capitals for a whopping amount of Rs 2 crore.

Rutherford is relatively new to T20 cricket but his numbers are very impressive. The Guyanese middle-order batsman has a strike-rate of 142.50 in T20s and can tonk the ball big.

#6 Shivam Dubey (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Dubey has been exceptional for Mumbai this season

Fast bowling all-rounders are a rare commodity in Indian cricket, and so they garner considerable attention at every auction. Shivam Dubey, the Mumbai all-rounder, has been the talk of the town recently.

The 25-year-old is going through a purple patch and scored heavily for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. He has been picking up wickets too, which makes him a complete T20 package.

Dubey gave a good account of his hitting abilities when he pasted Pravin Tambe for 5 sixes in an over in a local T20 match. Dubey will be playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2019.

#7 Prabhsimran Singh (Kings XI Punjab)

Prabhsimran captained the India U19 team in the Asia Cup

Not a lot of people knew about Prabhsimran Singh when his name came up for bidding at the auction.

The Punjab wicket-keeper was the captain of the India U19 team that played in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. The 18-year-old hit a 33-ball fifty against Sri Lanka in that tournament and got noticed by the IPL franchises.

Prabhsimran was also part of the Indian emerging squad that played in Sri Lanka. It will be interesting to see how the talented youngster copes with the pressure of the big money invested in him.

#8 Sam Curran (Kings XI Punjab)

Sam Curran was a hot property at the auction

Kings XI Punjab will be mighty pleased to get the services of Sam Curran in IPL 2019. Curran has had a brilliant start to his international career; he has been impressive with both bat and ball, and was thus expected to earn big money at the auction.

After a fierce bidding war, Curran was eventually bought by Kings XI Punjab for Rs 7.20 crore. In the process he also became the most expensive overseas player of the auction.

The conditions in Mohali will suit Curran's bowling style, and he will likely be a big asset for the Kings.

#9 Varun Chakravarthy (Kings XI Punjab)

The mystery spinner from Tamil Nadu made it big at the auction

Varun Chakravarthy earned the reputation of being a mystery spinner in the TNPL. Varun has got seven variations in his arsenal, and was instrumental in his team's title triumph.

He followed that up with a brilliant performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he finished as the second highest wicket-taker of the series. Kings XI Punjab will want Varun to extend his terrific form in the IPL as well.

#10 Oshane Thomas (Rajasthan Royals)

Thomas celebrates Dhawan's wicket

Oshane Thomas was probably the steal of the auction. The speedster was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.1 crore, an amount which seems to be moderate considering the talent that the man possesses.

The 21-year-old Jamaican bowls at an express pace and has troubled several batsmen in his short international career so far. On West Indies' recent tour of India, Thomas made life difficult for the likes of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.

It will be a treat for fans of genuine fast-bowling to watch Jofra Archer and Oshane Thomas bowling in tandem.

#11 Prayas Ray Barman (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Barman took 11 wickets in 9 matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy

Prayas Ray Barman, the teenager from West Bengal, was in great demand at the auction. The leg-spinner was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for an eye-catching amount of Rs. 1.5 crore.

Barman caught everyone's attention at the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The 16-year-old was West Bengal's highest wicket-taker in the tournament, picking up 11 wickets at an outstanding economy of 4.45.

Barman will share the dressing room with his idol Virat Kohli, which will be a dream come true for him.