The 2022 IPL auction gets underway from the 12th of February in Bengaluru and nearly 600 players are set to go under the hammer with a maximum of 217 spots available across the ten IPL teams.
While there are many international superstars like David Warner, Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer and Shikhar Dhawan in the auction list, there are also some exciting up and coming talents that could get their maiden IPL contracts in 2022. Plenty of promising young stars have been putting on a show in the ongoing ICC U-19 World Cup in the West Indies, and here are five U19 players who could fetch big money at the 2022 IPL auction.
1. Yash Dhull (India)
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The Indian Captain has been incredibly impressive at the U19 World Cup, taking India to their fourth consecutive final and leading from the front with bat in hand. The Delhi youngster scored a scintillating century against Australia in the semi-final, and despite missing a few games due to a Covid-19 infection, Dhull has managed 212 runs at an average of 106 in the tournament.
2. Dewald Brevis (South Africa)
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“Baby AB” Dewald Brevis lit up the U-19 World Cup with his dazzling stroke-making, finishing with 506 runs in six matches- the most runs ever scored by a batsman in a single edition of the tournament. Brevis creamed three 50s & two 100s for South Africa U-19 in the West Indies, and the highly-rated youngster could attract plenty of bids from IPL teams in this auction, given his extraordinary potential and ceiling.
3. Raj Angad Bawa (India)
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Raj Angad Bawa is a rare breed in Indian cricket as a fast-bowling all-rounder, and the India U-19 star could be in high demand at the 2022 IPL auction due to his skill-set. Bawa picked up four wickets in India’s opening match of the tournament against South Africa and followed that up with an impressive 162* against Uganda – the highest score by an Indian at the U-19 World Cup.
4. Vicky Otswal (India)
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Left-arm spinner Vicky Otswal is India’s highest-wicket taker at the U-19 World Cup, picking up 12 scalps in five matches at an excellent economy rate of 3.39. Otswal began the tournament with a superb five-wicket haul against South Africa and has continued his fine form throughout the World Cup, picking up crucial wickets in the quarters and semi-finals against Bangladesh and Australia. Otswal also starred in India U-19’s recent Asia Cup victory, and the all-rounder could be an incredible prospect for IPL sides with his mystery spin and handy hitting down the order.
5. Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)
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After Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad could be the next Afghanistan leg-spinner to fetch a big contract at the IPL auction. The 17-year-old played an integral role in helping Afghanistan reach the semi-finals of the U-19 World Cup, and Ahmad is only one of two uncapped foreigners present amongst the first 100 names of the 2022 IPL auction list. Ahmad was famously selected to play in the Big Bash at age 15, and the spinner was a net bowler for the Chennai Super Kings at the 2021 IPL.
[Featured Image Credit: Cricket South Africa]
Shivaan Shah