IPL 2018: The debutants XI 

Time and again, we analyze the best eleven on the subject of statistics, age, stature, playing conditions, opposition, country, etc. But very seldom, the fresh cricketers fall to one's lot and get involved in the check over. Here is a look at the 11 of those players who are yet to start-off their IPL careers.

The foreign players have been selected on the basis of their overall record in the shortest format whereas the domestic contenders on the back of their recent Twenty20 form, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18 being fresh off the fire T20 tournament to have taken place. A couple of immensely talented Under-19 World Cup sensations make it to the list as well, despite having not played competitive T20 cricket.

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#1 Evin Lewis (Batsman)

Evin Lewis remained unsold in last year's auction

Born in Trinidad, the mighty left-hander is not too much different from his idol Chris Gayle, who likes to tear apart the opposition bowling-attack right from the word go. In fact, Evin Lewis got lucky enough to open alongside "Universe boss" in the Caribbean Premier League, only to make him play the second-fiddle in his 97-run knock off just 32 deliveries.

The thumb rule to find an IPL contract is to perform against India, which was followed perfectly by the 26-year-old, scoring two T20I hundreds against the Blues in Florida and Sabina Park. Mumbai Indians took the note and roped him in for ₹ 3.8 crores.

T20 Career Performance:

#2 D'Arcy Short (Batsman)

Scored a match-winning fifty in tri-series final against New Zealand

The Hobart Hurricanes' top order batsman came into limelight when he scored eight fours and three sixes against a potent Sydney Sixers bowling attack on his Big Bash League debut and rose to fame.

D'Arcy Short is a batting all-rounder, a flashy left-handed opener, and a slow left-arm unorthodox bowler. The leading run-scorer in BBL this season has already drawn comparisons with David Warner, earning a call-up to Australia's T20I side who won the recently concluded Tri-series against New Zealand and England.

Rajasthan Royals put their faith in the southpaw to perform in the Indian conditions by signing him for ₹ 4 crores.

T20 Career Performance:

#3 Shubman Gill

Gill idolizes Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli

The 'Man of the tournament' in recently concluded ICC U-19 World Cup, Shubman Gill was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹1.8 crores to join his WC-winning team-mates Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

KKR looks slightly thin on batting, lacking experienced Indian batsmen, barring the wicket-keeping duo of Robin Uthappa and Dinesh Karthik. Hence, it gives an opportunity to the youngster to build his stature at a very young age.

#4 Dhruv Shorey (Batsman)

Helped Delhi in claiming the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

The Delhi-born cricketer, Dhruv Shorey is a right-handed batsman who made his first-class debut a couple of seasons ago. His good days began when he scored a century in the final against Vidarbha in 2017/18 season.

He finished the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with the highest batting average of 60.60 and became only the second batsman to score 300+ runs for Delhi after Rishabh Pant.

Chennai Super Kings acquired the 25-year-old at his base price of ₹ 20 lacs.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18 Performance:

#5 Ricky Bhui (Batsman)

Ricky Bhui's IPL debut may not be too far now

The Bhopal-born Ricky Bhui was a part of India U19s for World Cup 2016 held in UAE, where India failed to defend their title. The young kid rose to fame when he scored consecutive 30+ scores backed by a couple of good fifties in youth ODIs, which led to his selection in the World Cup squad.

The 21-year-old was bagged by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹ 20 lacs following his Syed Mushtaq Ali performance, where he brought down curtains as the highest run-getter for Andhra.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18 Performance:

#6 Prashant Chopra (WK-Batsman)

Opened the batting for Himachal Pradesh in the T20 tournament

The Himachal Pradesh skipper, Prashant Chopra, was roped-in by Rajasthan Royals for ₹ 20 lacs in the wake of his successful Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The 25-year-old was a part of 2012 U19 World cup winning Indian squad, on the back of which, he was picked by Himachal Pradesh and since then, became the backbone of their batting line-up. Furthermore, he is an occasional wicket-keeper too, that made his IPL prospects even more substantial.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18 Performance:

#7 Krishnappa Gowtham (All-rounder)

Taking forward his phenomenal form in Vijay Hazare Trophy

One of the headline makers after the IPL player auction, Krishnappa Gowtham became the most expensive uncapped spinner to take part in the upcoming season, when Rajasthan Royals shopped him for ₹ 6.2 crores.

For his domestic side Karnataka, the 29-year-old is hailed as a T20 specialist, portraying his quality both with the ball and bat. It's not the first time he went under the hammer for crores. Last year, Mumbai Indians invested ₹ 2 crores on him, which was 20 times his base price, only to sideline him throughout the season.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18 Performance:

#8 Kamlesh Nagarkoti

He is the most expensive amongst his World Cup team-mates

A teenager running and hitting the deck hard, at consistent 140 km/h pace was a rarity in India until the 2018 U-19 World Cup, when the duo of Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi busted the myth.

The small-town boy from Barmer, Rajasthan, Nagarkoti was roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹ 3.2 crores. The speedster will look to make best of the opportunity to be nurtured in a competitive environment with the likes of Aussie spearheads Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and the experience of Vinay Kumar.

#9 Jofra Archer (Bowler)

More Caribbean flavor adds up to the IPL

The fast-bowling sensation, who was born in Barbados, played for Windies U-19s in 2013. Post that, Archer has been playing for Sussex in the County Championship since the last couple of years.

Moreover, the 22-year-old has been the find of the season in this year's BBL, picking up 15 wickets in 11 games. Playing for Hobart Hurricanes, he grabbed his best figures of 3/15 against Strikers while clicking 145 km/h regularly, thereby stealing all the limelight.

He was bagged by the Rajasthan Royals for a whopping ₹ 7.2 crores for his heroics with the ball.

T20 Career Performance:

#10 Jason Behrendorff (Bowler)

Missed last BBL due to injury

The left-arm bowler from New South Wales, Jason Behrendorff's strength is to swing the ball in powerplay and pick up early wickets. He is one of the most economical bowlers with the new ball in T20 cricket.

The 27-year-old plays for Perth Scorchers in the BBL and has been a significant part of their consecutive title wins in seasons 2 & 3.

Touring India last October for T20Is, he made everyone take notice of him by bowling a match-winning spell, scalping big-fish Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey. Perhaps this made Mumbai Indians buy him for a bargain price of ₹ 1.5 crores.

T20 Career Performance:

#11 Khaleel Ahmed (Bowler)

His left-arm bowling style will be an added advantage to get picked in the SRH XI

Khaleel Ahmed played the last U-19 World Cup for India. He was a part of Delhi Daredevils side previously, but didn't get an opportunity and saw himself benched throughout. The 20-year-old regained all the hype when he became the second highest wicket-taker in the domestic T20 tournament, playing for Rajasthan.

After warfare between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils, it was the Sunrisers Hyderabad to close the bid at ₹ 3 crores and have the last laugh.

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18 Performance: