The wait is almost over. On December 19, the auction for the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to take place in Dubai.
There has been a lot of buzz and excitement for the auction as teams enter a literal bidding war to bring the best players on board and challenge for the IPL title.
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As many as 333 players have been shortlisted by teams to go under the hammer at the auction after 1166 players registered their names. Of those 333 players, 214 are Indians and 119 are overseas players.
While the focus will be on the capped Indian players and international cricket superstars as they will steal the limelight with the big bucks, there are certainly some uncapped players who will be receiving huge paychecks.
In this article, The Sporting News takes a look at five players who might go for huge sums.
MORE: Top picks from IPL 2024 mock auction listed
Five uncapped players to watch out for at IPL 2024 Auction
A few names have already accumulated IPL experience, while some will be hoping to get the maiden break in the cash-rich league. Here are the five uncapped players to watch out for.
Kartik Tyagi
The former India U19 pacer was an integral part of India's U19 squad at the ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2020, picking up 11 wickets as India finished as runner-up.
The same year, he was picked by Rajasthan Royals (RR), picking up nine wickets in 10 games and showing a lot of promise.
His consistent performances in the domestic circuit (he made his first-class debut at 16!) as well as the ability to tirelessly clock over 140 km/h even earned him India call-ups to be the net bowler and be among the reserves.
In subsequent IPL seasons, he has played just nine more games after 2020, picking up just six wickets. Tyagi couldn't fulfill his promise with RR - and then with Sunrisers Hyderabad - leading him to be released ahead of the 2024 auctions.
However, teams with the need to add Indian seamers to their rosters will certainly be keeping an eye on the Uttar Pradesh man. He recently bagged a hattrick in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League, finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets from six games. His average of 12.77 was the best among bowlers to have picked at least six wickets.
Expect him to be desired by many teams.
Shahrukh Khan
The swashbuckling, big-hitting middle-order batsman from Tamil Nadu will certainly be on the radar of many teams as his ability to make the ball disappear at the death can add a different dimension to any team.
After failing to justify Punjab Kings' faith in him, Shahrukh will be looking to prove himself in IPL 2024.
While he certainly stole the spotlight due to his six-hitting prowess, he seems to have worked a lot on his bowling in the past 18 months or so, finishing as the leading wicket-tacker in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).
Harvik Desai
Coming on the back of a stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, scoring 336 runs at 67.2 and a strike rate of 175, 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Harvik Desai will certainly be a priority for teams that lack the presence of a proper Indian keeper/backup keeper.
The Saurashtra-born man can open the innings but also come in at No. 3 or No. 4, showcasing his versatility.
Musheer Khan
One of the only two players with first-class experience in India's Under-19 World Cup squad for the World Cup that will take place in South Africa in January and February, Musheer will be attracting a lot of interest from potential bidders.
His skillset allows him to play anywhere in the middle-order while also providing the team with a fifth/sixth bowling option in the form of left-arm spin bowling.
Any team that buys Musheer would certainly feel that they can find better balance in their playing XI. Think of him as the Indian Rachin Ravindra if we want to compare him with someone with a similar player profile.
Arshin Kulkarni
Perhaps the most exciting uncapped player that will be going under the hammer, Maharashtra's Arshin Kulkarni, like Musheer Khan, will also be representing India at the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa in January.
Kulkarni is a rare breed as far as Indian cricketers are concerned - a top-order batsman who can provide a seam-bowling option.
Such is his versatility, though, that the powerful big-hitter can bat in the middle-order, too. He was recommended by his fellow Maharashtra senior Ruturaj Gaikwad for trials at Chennai Super Kings, but Kulkarni couldn't attend those trials due to U19 commitments.
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