IPL auction 2020: Predicting the top 5 buys

#4 Tom Banton

Tom Banton

A lot has been spoken about Tom Banton in the build-up to the IPL 2020 auction. There is obvious intrigue over what will transpire in Kolkata on Thursday once his name comes up for sale.

The 21-year-old Banton, with a base price of Rs. 1 crore, is fresh from a 41-ball 121 in Queensland’s Grade cricket. His reputation as a big-hitter just keeps growing.

While he managed only 16 playing for Brisbane Heat against Sydney Thunder in his first Big Bash League game, a lot is expected of him in the tournament. Every IPL franchise would be keen on having a player like Banton in their team to bring the X-factor, although the man himself is keen to play for Mumbai Indians.

Banton has scored just 56 runs in his three T20Is. However, his overall T20 career numbers are dazzling - 663 in 21 games at a strike rate of 156.36.

Banton smashed 549 in the Vitality Blast, which also featured an innings of 100 from 52 balls against Kent. He made his presence in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, in which he hit two fifties, including a dazzling 80 off 28 for Qalandars against Karnataka Tuskers.

It has been a while since a youngster generated such excitement on the T20 circuit.