Some as yet uncapped youngsters have turned heads by going for big money in the IPL 2024 Auction today (December 19) – here are the five biggest uncapped buys from the day.
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Sameer Rizvi INR 8.40 crore – Chennai Super Kings
Uttar Pradesh batter Rizvi went into the auction with his base price set at 20 lakh. However, a bidding war between CSK and Gujarat Titans saw him sold for a whopping 8.4 crore to the defending champions. Rizvi scored 455 runs in nine innings in the recent UP T20 League, including two centuries. He also showed his power in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this year, where he hit a six on average off every 11 balls he faced. The 20-year-old should add some needed power into Chennai Super Kings’ middle-order.
Kumar Kushagra INR 7.20 crore – Delhi Capitals
Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Kushagra was bid for by multiple teams. He eventually ended up on Delhi Capitals books for 7.2 crore. Only 19, he ended the Deodhar Trophy this year with 227 runs in nine innings, having been part of India’s squad for the 2020 U19 World Cup. He scored a double-hundred against Nagaland in the Ranji Trophy last year, becoming the youngest batter ever to score 250 or more in a first-class innings.
Shubham Dubey INR 5.80 crore – Rajasthan Royals
The left-handed Dubey bats in the lower middle order and attracted a lot of attention when his name came up in the auction. Rajasthan Royals eventually sealed the deal to outbid Delhi Capitals. Dubey impressed during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 221 runs at a strike rate of 187. Most impressive in that competition was 58 from just 20 balls, which ensured Vidarbha chased 213 against Bengal. He has an average of 37.30 from 20 T20s so far.
M Siddharth INR 2.40 crore – Lucknow Super Giants
Siddharth came into the auction with a base price of 20 lakhs. He played for Lycia Kovai Kings at the Tamil Nadu Premier League this year and took 11 wickets in nine matches and has also been a net bowler for both CSK and the India national team as a slow left-arm finger spinner. He was given high praise by state captain Dinesh Karthik for his early performances, who said: “Saidu is a gun bowler and I hope the IPL scouts have a look at him.”
