IPL Auction 2019: 5 lesser-known T20 stars of 2018 who can become million dollar babies

One of the most endearing things of the Indian Premier League is it serves as a breeding ground for young and obscure talent around the world.

In the initial years of the IPL, the franchises went for box-office names to beef up their sides. But, it has often been seen that teams' containing a plethora of superstars seldom fare well.

As the years have progressed, the Franchise owners do their homework of scouting young and obscure talents from around the world.

Players like Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav all shone to limelight while playing in the IPL and went on to become a regular part of their respective sides. Unknown prodigies give an X-Factor to a franchise.

Ahead of the 2019 IPL auctions which are scheduled to be held in Jaipur on December 18, around 1,000 players from all over the world have registered for 70 available slots.

Today, in this article, we'll have a look five lesser-known cricketers who can stir a bidding war in the auction.

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#1 Nicolas Pooran (Windies)

The swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman from the Caribbean shot into the reckoning after he scored a whirlwind 53 off 25 balls in the third T20I of the Windies' tour of India, at Chennai.

It has been a year to remember for the 23-year-old. Pooran was on fire in this years Caribbean Premier League, smashing 267 runs for Barbados Tridents at a strike-rate of 144.32 which earned him a call-up to the national side.

He continued his swashbuckling form in the recently concluded T10 League where he finished as the leading run-getter for his side, the Northern Warriors, scoring a staggering 324 runs in nine innings at a swashbuckling strike-rate of 245.45. Pooran can be an ideal pick for the likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad who have struggled to find a swashbuckling wicket-keeper in the past, especially after having released Wriddhiman Saha from the squad.

#2 Shivam Dubey (India)

Shivam Dubey

The Mumbai All-rounder was recently in the news after earning praise from the former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar for his telling performances in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.

With the ability to turn the game around with both bat and ball, Dubey can be an asset for any T20 Franchise. The Mumbaikar boasts of a strike-rate of 147.65 in 13 T20s and has scalped 10 wickets at an average of 26.30

In what has been a disappointing season for Mumbai, Dubey has stood head and shoulders above his teammates, scoring 368 runs which include two hundred at an average of 73.60. The striking aspect of Dubey's batting is he has stroked 13 sixes in four games thus far.

Along with his swashbuckling batting, Dubey is more than handy with the ball, having snared 16 wickets at 17.87. Dubey can be a great pick for the Royal Challengers Bangalore who in the preceding seasons have struggled with the lack of quality Indian talent.

#3 Ali Khan (USA)

Ali Khan

With an ability to use both old and new ball with ease, bowl searing yorkers at the death while swinging the ball at the front, Pakistan-born USA international has had a great 2018 with telling performances in various T20 Leagues around the world.

Khan played a crucial part for the Winnipeg Hawks in the Global Canad T20, taking 10 wickets at 24.50 and also in Trinbago Knight Riders' title-winning campaign where he bagged 16 wickets at 20.81.

With KKR having struggled with their fast bowling in the last edition, Ali Khan might be a crucial addition to their set-up.

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#4 Reeza Hendricks (South Africa)

Reeza Hendricks

That the Jozi Stars are squashing sides with disdain in the ongoing Mzansi Super League can mainly be attributed to the swashbuckling form of Reeza Hendricks.

The 29-year-old Proteas opening batsman has played a pivotal part in reviving what looked like a campaign of doom and gloom for his side in the first half of the tournament.

With 359 runs in seven games which includes two back-to-back hundreds, at an average of 71.80 and a strike-rate of 155.41, Hendricks is comfortably the leading run-scorer of the tournament and could be an asset for a franchise like Rajasthan Royals who have struggled with their opening combination in the past season.

#5 Fawad Ahmed (Australia)

Fawad Ahmed

Ahmed, who made his T20 debut back in 2013 for the Melbourne Renegades has had an outstanding 2018 for various T20 franchises around the world. Leg-spinners have proven to be a vital asset in the T20 format. One name that has been bamboozling batters with his guile and variations is Australian leg-spinner, Fawad Ahmed.

He finished as the second-highest wicket-taker [14 wickets at 15.29] in the Global Canada T20, leading wicket-taker [22 wickets at 13.77] in the Caribbean Premier League, and has thus far snared 29 T20 wickets at an average of 14.79.

With the General Elections in April, the tournament could be shifted to the UAE. In that case, on low and slow tracks, the 34-year-old could be a vital asset for any franchise.