IPL auction 2023: U19 players will, as always, be part of the auction on December 23. Here is a list of the five U19 cricketers who can be hot picks this season.

India have won three of the last six editions of the Under-19 World Cup. Across these six tournaments, they have won 32 matches and lost four. If one removes the indifferent 2010 World Cup, India have won four editions out of the last eight, and 43 matches out of 48. No team has been as dominant in the history of the tournament.

It is only obvious that several U19 cricketers go on to play for India as well as become IPL superstars. Even the 2020 edition – where India finished runners-up – featured Ravi Bishnoi, Priyam Garg, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and Kartik Tyagi.

India won in 2022, and the likes of Yash Dhull, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Raj Bawa, and Vicky Ostwal got IPL deals. With half a season of domestic cricket behind them, their former teammates are ready as well, while new U19 stars have come up – and not merely from India.

IPL auction 2023: U19 players to look out for

Dinesh Bana

With several teams in the lookout for a second wicketkeeper (preferably Indian), Bana is a likely buy. He struck at 191 in the 2022 World Cup – and that was in 50-over cricket – hitting a boundary every four balls. He turned 18 barely a week ago, he is finding his groove in domestic cricket for Haryana, and is going to be a long-term investment for any franchise.

Basit Bashir

Jammu & Kashmir has been a favourite hunting ground for scouts since Umran Malik burst onto the scene in IPL 2020. Still 19, Bashir is a left-arm fast bowler – that rare genre India have been in search of for some years but have not quite found. Well past six feet, Bashir can swing the ball either way at reasonable pace.

You asked for a LEFT-ARM QUICK, here we go:
Basit Bashir, a 19-year-old left-arm pacer from #Kashmir, is 6’3” tall, bowls super quick and can swing it both ways! He’s also currently a part of the J&K U-25 team! Has done well at U19 level! Hope #IPL teams would take a look at him! pic.twitter.com/7vw31ffpAS

— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) November 19, 2022

Shaik Rasheed

COVID-19 restricted Rasheed, the vice-captain of the squad, to four matches at the Under-19 World Cup, but he responded with 201 runs at 50.25. Still new to domestic cricket, he debuted for Andhra in this season, and is likely to emerge as a reasonable bat in the middle-order. He also bowls leg-breaks.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi

The leading run-scorer for India in the Under-19 World Cup (278 runs at 46.67, strike rate 89), opening batter Raghuvanshi of Madhya Pradesh has been deemed eligible to sign up for the auction despite not having played domestic cricket. He also bowls left-arm spin.

Kumar Kushagra

India’s reserve wicketkeeper at the Under-19 World Cup, Kushagra of Jharkhand has played only five Twenty20 matches, but his averages in the other formats – 59.77 in First-class, 51.50 in List A – indicate his quality. A reasonable pick for sides in need for a backup gloveman.

Inzharulhaq Naveed

After Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, leg-spinner Izharulhaq will keep the rich tradition of teenage Afghan spinners alive at this year’s auction. Picked by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for this year’s CPL, he has started his BBL career with the Sydney Sixers with figures of 8-0-47-2 from two matches.

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