The IPL auction often puts a smile on the faces on uncapped players, and the one this year, too, was rewarding for a handful of talented youngsters. Here's a look at five promising uncapped players to watch out for in IPL 2024:
Sameer Rizvi
Chennai Super Kings were engaged in an intense bidding war with Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals for the 20-year-old Uttar Pradesh batter in the IPL auction on Tuesday, but finally managed to get him for a whopping Rs 8.40 crore. It is a boon for the struggling family - Rizvi's father Haseen has not been able to work, having suffered brain haemorrhage three years ago.
Rizvi caught the eyes of IPL talent scouts for the first time during the UP T20 League while playing for Kanpur Super Stars. He hammered 455 runs from nine matches, including the fastest hundred in the tournament off 47 balls. Rizvi carried that form into the state Under-23 tournament where he smashed 454 runs from seven matches. But more than those runs, it was Rizvi's ability to clear the ropes by miles that fascinated the scouts. The young batter smoked 72 sixes across 16 matches in those tournaments.
He is also excited at the prospect of meeting CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and playing with him.
Kumar Kushagra
When someone of the stature of Sourav Ganguly says he sees a bit of Dhoni in a player, you know he is special. So, it was no surprise when Delhi Capitals – Ganguly is their director of cricket – picked up Kushagra, who had a base price of Rs 20 lakh, for Rs 7.20 crore, though CSK and Gujarat Titans, too, were interested in him. He had an impressive run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament earlier this year, scoring 111 runs in six matches for Jharkhand.
The wicketkeeper-batter was part of the Indian team in the 2020 U-19 World Cup in South Africa. In the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy pre-quarterfinal against Nagaland, Kushagra broke the 46-year-old record set by Pakistan legend Javed Miandad to become the youngest batsman to score 250-plus score, by amassing 266 runs.
Kushagra’s T20 strike rate is 117.64 but numbers can be deceiving, as he proved in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Maharashtra, when he smashed a 37-ball 67 coming in at no. 6, helping Jharkhand chase down 355.
Shahrukh Khan
Khan is no stranger to IPL and big bucks. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the auction, thus freeing up Rs 9 crore. Though they tried to buy him back in the auction, Gujarat Titans outbid them by shelling out Rs 7.40 crore. Khan has played 33 matches in the IPL. In 2023, his strike rate was over 160, but consistency was a concern. The power-hitter, who can take the pacers to the cleaners, has been vulnerable against wrist-spinners.
Shubham Dubey
Rhymes with Shivam Dube? Dubey, too, is a southpaw like Dube and is a lower-order power-hitter. The 29-year-old from Nagpur was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 5.80 crore, after a fierce bidding war. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament this year, he scored 221 runs at a strike rate of 190, including a 20-ball 58 to help Vidarbha beat Bengal. His career-best score in the Ranji Trophy is 249*.
The IPL contract will be a big relief for Dubey and his family. His father has been, reportedly, unemployed for some years now. His brother, who works in a private firm, runs the house. At one point, Dubey did not even have money to buy bat or gloves.
Robin Minz
Hailing from Gumla in Jharkhand, Minz is, reportedly, the first tribal cricketer from the state to land a multi-million IPL contract. He was signed by the Gujarat Titans for Rs 3.6 crore. The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was pursued by Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, too, but the Gujarat franchise prevailed.
Minz has not played for the Jharkhand senior team, but has represented the state at the U-19 and U-25 levels. In 2021, he scored three centuries in five matches for the U-19 team, and was part of the team in the Col C.K. Nayudu Trophy last year and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament this year, said his coach Chanchal Bhattacharya, who also coached Dhoni in his childhood.
Son of a retired army man working now as a security guard at Ranchi airport, Minz is now part of the team in the Ranji Trophy this season.
