IPL 2019: Five Indian players who could start a bidding war

The Indian Premier League is getting bigger and grander every season. More than 1000 players have registered themselves for the 2019 auction, which is happening on 18th of December at Jaipur. A total of 746 Indian players have applied for this auction.

The players' list will be further pruned before the auction when the franchises submit their wish-list in a couple of days time. There are 50 slots which are up for the grab for Indians during the auction.

Some of the Indian players are in brilliant form and in all likelihood, they will trigger an auction war. Who will be the next Jaydev Unadkat of 2018?

Here is the list of five Indian players who could set the auction on fire.

#1 Shivam Dubey

Shivam Dubey is an all-rounder who plays for Mumbai in the domestic cricket. He made his T20 debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy two seasons before.

The power-hitter has been in great form this season. The 2018 Mumbai T20 League provided him with a platform to showcase his all-around potential. He has played 13 T20 games so far scoring 189 runs at an impressive strike-rate of 147.65.

Shivam smashed Pravin Tambe for five sixes in an over in Mumbai T20 league this year. His ability to hit sixes gained a lot of attention from the IPL franchises. Shivam is equally good with the ball as he picked 10 wickets from 13 games at a strike-rate of 17.0.

The 25-year old is in scintillating form in Ranji Trophy matches this year. He has scored 364 runs in five innings at an average of 91.00 and also took 12 wickets at an average of 16.75. Sunil Gavaskar, in his column for mid-day, wrote that Shivam Dubey will be on the radar of all the IPL clubs during the auction. Gavaskar believes that the left-handed batsman is a clean hitter like Saurav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh.

With all these rich attributes under his belt, Dubey will definitely set the auction on fire this time.

#2 Varun Aaron

Varun's ability to bowl more than 150 kmph will make IPL teams to prioritise him in the auction

The discarded former Indian fast bowler, Varun Aaron, has scripted a grand comeback to the Indian domestic cricket this year. He was hampered by back injuries for the past three years. He didn't represent India since November 2015.

However, the fast bowler has moved on from the setback and making rapid progress in the domestic circuit. The fast bowler is currently representing Jharkhand in the ongoing Ranji Tournament. From the four games played, he took 16 wickets at an awe-inspiring average of 16.87 which includes two five-wicket hauls.

Aaron ability to bowl extremely quick will be an asset for any IPL team. The 29-year-old can make any batsman uncomfortable, even on a flat-track, with his vicious pace bowling. With many IPL teams are in need of a quality fast-bowler, Varun Aaron will be a hot property in the upcoming IPL auction.

#3 Mohammed Shami

Mohammad Shami is a consistent performer in the Indian Test team for the past few years

Mohammed Shami has had a disappointing IPL 2018 because of his off-field issues. Rightly so, he was released by his franchise during the release window. Shami will enter the auction pool this year with the base price of one crore INR.

Shami is currently one of the best bowlers in the world. His ability to bowl quick yorkers will come in handy during the death overs in IPL. Almost all the IPL clubs are in need of an experienced fast bowler this season and Shami will fit the bill perfectly.

Shami has taken 33 wickets this year for the Indian team and spearheaded India's attack in both South Africa and England. Shami will be looking to seal his World Cup place by impressing everyone in the IPL. It's time for the IPL clubs to invest in a man who is on a mission.

#4 Varun Chakravarthy

Varun's mystery bowling will add spice to any IPL team

Varun Chakravathi impressed everyone with his mystery spinning bowling during the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2018. His ability to mix leg-cutters and carrom balls with his usual off-spinners made the batsman struggle to read his deliveries. Varun played a key part in Madurai Panthers winning the first TNPL title.

Varun took nine wickets in TNPL at an effective average of 20.8. He is extremely good at not bowling any loose deliveries. His economy-rate of 4.70 runs per over makes him a potent force in T20s.

India's leading commentator L. Sivaramakrishnan said, “Varun looked promising. He was accurate and displayed his variety. He has a high-arm action which is essential for sending down the carrom ball and the leg-cutter. And he was getting his off-spinners to bite off the surface.”

Varun will be a hot property in the upcoming IPL auction as every team would prefer to have a mystery bowler in their arsenal.

#5 Kedar Devdhar

Kedar Devdhar is having a prolific 2018 domestic season

Kedar Devdhar is in form of his life in 2018. He is the highest run scorer in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament this year. The Baroda born wicket-keeper has scored 411 runs from eight T20 games. He has scored his runs at an impressive average and strike-rate of 58.71 and 137.00 respectively. Despite his impressive form, he couldn't find a taker in last years' IPL.

Devdhar continued his impressive run in the Vijay Hazare tournament. The right-handed batsman scored 401 runs from his seven List-A games at an extraordinary average of 57.8 runs per match. His runs included two massive centuries.

He extended his run in the third format too. In Ranji Trophy this season, Devdhar has scored 448 runs from his five games which include two centuries. In the recently concluded game against Saurashtra, the in-form batsman has scored 224 runs.

The IPL scouts would have spotted his special talent by now. It will not be a surprise if Kedar gets a five-fold hike in his salary this auction.