2016 IPL auction: Uncapped players to watch for

Players like Ravindra Jadeja, Manpreet Gony, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya were unknown entities before they made their name in the Indian Premier League. They got a chance to impress in various editions of IPL and owing largely to their exploits in the tournament the uncapped players went on to represent India at the international stage.
Similarly, for players like KC Cariappa, Kamran Khan, Pravin Tambe, Dinesh Salunke life changed for the good when they were picked by various franchises in the IPL auctions.While the Yuvraj Singhs, Kevin Pietersens and Shane Watsons rack up the moolah during the auctions, the Tambes and Cariappas often make the headlines as the most surprise picks. The 2016 auction will not be any different and TOI Sports takes a look at some uncapped players who could force the franchises to break the bank this year.
Karun Nair
A proven performer in all formats, it is only a matter of time before Karun makes it to the Indian team, but going in to the 2016 auctions, the middle-order batsman is an uncapped player with a base price of Rs 10,00,000, a sum which he should surpass with ease. With Rajasthan Royals, Karun formed a formidable alliance with Sanju Samson and showed the world his prowess with the bat. While Sanju went on represent India and finds himself in the elite Rs 2,00,00,000 bracket this auction, Karun will be eager to follow his under-19 teammate's footsteps. He did not enjoy a memorable domestic season this year, but there is no denying the talent this Bangalore-based batsman has as he displayed during the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy final scoring 328 runs to flatten Tamil Nadu. Karun's IPL stats are also something that would be tough to overlook for the franchise owners. In 25 matches for Rajasthan, Karun has scored 511 runs at a strike-rate of 135.54. With teams like Delhi Daredevils, Gujarat Lions, Royal Challengers Bangalore looking a middle-order batsman, one should expect a tough battle for the 24-year-old come February 6.
Nathu Singh
The guy with the 'spark' as described by national selector Sandeep Patil, Nathu Singh has commanded attention of the Indian cricket fans in quick time. A genuine Indian material as described by former India international Gautam Gambhir, the 20-year-old could be one of the surprise picks at the auctions this Saturday. An in-swing bowler, who can generate good pace when he bowls at a length, Jaipur born fast bowler had an impressive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy - India's domestic T20 tournament - claiming 10 wickets in six matches, including a menacing spell of 4 for 13 against Kerala. With most teams looking to get on board an uncapped fast bowler, Nathu, at a base price of Rs 10,00,000 could be at the top of the list for many franchises. Rising Pune Supergiants could be very keen on getting a raw talent, as skipper MS Dhoni has a knack and history of bringing the best out of domestic talent something which he has done well in the past with the likes of Gony, Sudeep Tyagi, Mohit Sharma and Joginder Sharma.
(TOI Photo)
Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant
A major chunk of uncapped Indian players is constituted by under-19 players and with the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup going on, there would be a lot of interest in buying the current crop of Indian colts who are representing India in Dhaka. And leading that pack are skipper Ishan Kishan and his deputy Rishab Pant. Apart from being good top-order batsmen, they are wicket-keepers as well and that would be an advantage for the duo going in to the auctions as most teams are looking to buy reserve keepers. Ishan made his first class debut in 2014 and in just 10 FC games, the left-hand batsman has racked by five half-centuries and a century and leading the Indian under-19 team he pummelled 138 off 86 balls against Canada in the warm-up match. Pant, on the other hand, made his first-class debut this season and scored a fifty on debut. More recently, Pant hit the headlines when he scored the fastest fifty in the under-19 World Cup off 18 balls against Nepal.
(TOI Photo)
Deepak Hooda
Another under-19 star, Hooda was picked by Rajasthan Royals in 2014 and after warming the benches for one whole season, and the hard-hitting Baroda batsman made his presence felt the following year when he got the opportunity. An ultra-aggressive lower-order batsman, in the mould of Yusuf Pathan, the 20-year-old managed a strike-rate of over 150 in his nine innings. In the longer format, Hooda became Baroda's last line of defence with some sensible knocks lower-down helping his team out of trouble on many occasions. With a base price of Rs 10,00,000, most teams will look at Hooda as a bargain buy.
(TOI Photo)