IPL Auctions 2018: 5 Under-19 players who might start a bidding war

The ICC Under-19 World Cup is currently underway in New Zealand and the Indian team has made it to the quarterfinals already.

The Prithvi Shaw-led Indian team comprehensively defeated three-time winners Australia by 100 runs on Sunday and then went on to crush minnows Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets on Tuesday.

India will play their final Group B encounter against Zimbabwe at Mount Maunganui on Friday, January 19.

Over the year, the Under-19 biennial tournament has produced the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and many more, who went on to become the superstars of the game and the 2018 edition is no exception as a lot of young players are already hogging the limelight with their stellar performances.

With IPL 2018 Auctions set to take place in Bengaluru on January 27-28, it is expected that some of these young Indian boys might start a bidding between the eight franchise owners.

Now, let us look at the 5 Under-19 players who might fetch a good price at the upcoming auctions.

#5 Abhishek Sharma

The 17-year-old Abhishek Sharma, who led India Under-19 team to Asia Cup glory in 2016 after beating hosts Sri Lanka in the final, is a resourceful player as he bats left-handed and bowls left-arm orthodox.

The Amritsar boy was the highest wicket-taker in the 2016 edition of the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy and made his debut in the senior Punjab team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2016/2017 season.

The all-rounder is also the first cricketer to bag two prestigious BCCI awards - Raj Singh Dungarpur award for the highest scorer and highest wicket-taker - in the same domestic season.

Sharma, who draws inspiration from legendary Sachin Tendulkar, produced some fireworks with an 8-ball 23-run cameo, which propelled India to 328/7 in their ICC Under-19 World Cup opener against Australia.

#4 Shivam Mavi

The 19-year-old all-rounder from Noida, Shivam Mavi is a medium pace bowler and a right-handed batsman.

Mavi, who considers South African pacer Dale Steyn his idol, hopes that one day he will play for the Indian cricket team.

With his performance in the first two games of the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup, it seems that Mavi's dream might just come true.

In the first match against Australia, Mavi ran through the opponents' lower-middle order and ended up claiming 3 for 45 in 8.5 overs.

Whereas, in the game against Papua New Guinea, the pacer who opens the bowling for India, dismantled his rivals' top order and bagged 2 wickets for 16 in his 5 overs.

#3 Shubman Gill

India Under-19 team's vice-captain, Shubman Gill, who has scored 275 runs at an average of 61.25 from the two first-class matches, became the fourth youngest player from Punjab to score a Ranji Trophy hundred.

The 18-year-old Gill, impressed during the England series in 2017 by scoring 278 runs in four innings at a staggering average of 93 and was an automatic selection to represent India at this level.

During India's first game of the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup against Australia, Gill picked up the innings after Prithvi Shaw's dismissal as he scored 63 runs in just 54 deliveries.

Gill's attacking innings, which had six fours and a six, ensured that India were well on track to cross the 300-run mark.

#2 Kamlesh Nagarkoti

Kamlesh Nagarkoti, India Under-19 team's 18-year-old pacer, is making heads turn with his ferocious spells of pace bowling at Bay Oval in New Zealand.

The Rajasthan boy, who rose to fame with a hat-trick in his second List A game, Nagarkoti has been clocking 1405kmph consistently to trouble his opponents.

Spearheading the Indian pace attack, Nagarkoti broke Australia's opening partnership in the first game and ended up with figures of 3 for 29 in 7 overs.

The highest wicket-taker during the Test leg of India U-19’s visit to England in 2017, the boy who hails from a small town of Barmer, troubled the PNG batsmen too and claimed a wicket by giving away 17 runs in his 6 overs.

#1 Prithvi Shaw

Owing to a stunning domestic season, the responsibility to lead India Under-19 team at the 12 edition of the ICC tournament that is held every two years, was bestowed upon Prithvi Shaw.

The 18-year-old, who is often compared with Sachin Tendulkar, scored three first-class centuries in five matches of the recently concluded Ranji Trophy tournament for Mumbai.

The young skipper, who scored tons on his Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy debut, scored back-to-back fifties in the first two games of the ongoing Under-19 World Cup.

He led from the front with a 94-run knock against Australia and shared a 180-run stand with fellow opener Manjot Kalra (86) to power India to a colossal 328/7.

Whereas, in the game against Papua New Guinea, Shaw remained unbeaten on 57 off 39 balls to lead his team to a 10-wicket win