IPL Auction 2018: 5 young players who could go for big money

The IPL 2018 auctions are slated to take place on 27th and 28th of January , and the teams are looking to pick the players who suit them best. India has become a powerhouse in cricket and has started producing quality cricketers at a very young age. IPL has provided them with an ideal platform to display their talent.

Along with Indian youngsters, young cricketers from across the world consider IPL as the stepping stone to International Cricket. The likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Shaun Marsh and many others have gone on to play international cricket on the back of impressive performances in IPL and therefore the young Turks would look to put their best foot forward in the league.

5) Ishan Kishan

Kishan is known to give explosive start to his team which could fetch him a huge price

Ishan Kishan first rose to prominence when he was the captain of the Under-19 World Cup team which reached the finals. Kishan is a young batsman who has performed brilliantly in the opportunities he has had so far.

Kishan played for Gujarat Lions in 2016, where he got limited opportunities. 2017 turned out to be his breakthrough year, where he was promoted to open the batting for the Gujarat side. Kishan had an impressive 2017 IPL where he scored 277 runs in 11 matches at an average of nearly 28, and an impressive strike rate of almost 135.

Kishan is a wicketkeeper, which provides his IPL team with an option to play an extra batsman and hence increases the value he adds to the team.

Kishan opened the batting with Brendon McCullum for the Gujarat Lions and gave his team an explosive start. He has also captained the Under 19 World Cup team in 2015 and has displayed his captaincy abilities which could encourage his IPL team to make him the team's captain in the future.

4) Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan was the find of last year's IPL

Rashid Khan's is a story which any cricket fan would adore.The young spinner from war-torn Afghanistan has become a huge sensation in International cricket with T20 leagues around the world welcoming him with open arms, and IPL is no exception.

Khan played his first season in IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad and was a runaway hit. He continued his success for Afghanistan and has been bamboozling Australian batsmen in the ongoing Big Bash League with his googlies. The 19-year-old picked up 17 wickets in 14 IPL matches at an average of 21 and a stupendous economy of 6.6 in last year's IPL.

Rashid Khan will continue his success story in IPL as Indian pitches have always been known to assist spinners. Khan is just 19 years old and has years of cricket in him, which makes him a prospect that no team would like to miss.

3) Sanju Samson

Samson is one of the few players to have scored a century in last year's IPL

The 23-year-old from Kerala first played for Rajasthan Royals in 2013 and was a big success for the team. He continued his run in 2014, before having a poor 2015. Samson was later picked up by Delhi Daredevils in 2016 where has found back his form.

Samson had a great 2017 IPL where he amassed 386 runs in 14 matches at an average of 28 and an impressive strike rate of 141. Samson was given an opportunity to open for Delhi Daredevils and he has excelled in that role.

IPL teams always look for good openers as openers are the ones who set the ball rolling in T20s and in most cases they provide the direction to their teams. An Indian opener with an impressive strike rate and a consistent run is one commodity which no IPL team can afford to ignore.

2) Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana had an impressive 2017 IPL

Nitish Rana began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2016. He got an opportunity to play in just 4 matches in the first season, but that was enough for this young man from Delhi to exhibit his talent.

Rana scored 104 runs in 4 matches at an impressive average of 35 and a strike rate of 139. He continued his splendid run in 2017, scoring 333 runs in 13 matches at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 126.

Rana has proved to be an important part of the championship-winning Mumbai Indians side. He was promoted to the Number 3 position and was therefore instrumental in taking his side to the title.

An Indian youngster who can play both the aggressive game as well as the waiting game at the number 3 position, he is sure to attract high bids from the franchises.

1) Washington Sundar

Sundar is slowly emerging as a world-beating all-rounder

The 18-year-old from Tamil Nadu shot to prominence when he was a part of the Under-19 World Cup in 2015. The young all-rounder since then has moved from strength to strength and has gone on to play for India at a young age of 18.

Sundar played for Rising Pune Supergiant last year, where he bowled brilliantly and even won the man of the match award in the Semifinals. He scalped 8 wickets for the Pune side in 11 matches at an average of 23 and a magnificent economy of 6.1.

Sundar having an economy of 6 despite bowling the majority of his overs in the powerplay is a testament to his abilities.

Sundar's complete prowess though was on display in TNPL later that year where he fired on all cylinders. Sundar picked up 15 wickets in 9 TNPL matches at an average of 12 and an economy rate of 6.1. Sundar showed his skills with the bat as well scoring 459 runs in 9 matches at a 50+ average and a strike rate of 146.

Sundar is an exceptional talent and has the potential to become a world-beating all-rounder and hence a great pick for any IPL team