10 Uncapped Indians to watch out for in IPL 2016

The IPL 2016 is enthralling the fans in India and world over. Young players will be looking forward to the most popular T20 league in the world which can bring them in contention for national duties. Some of the finest Indian and overseas players will showcase their skills in the tourney. Here’s a look at 10 uncapped Indian players to watch out for in the IPL 2016. 1. Deepak Hooda (SRH): Deepak Hooda. (Photo Source: BCCI) Previously a part of Rajasthan Royals team, Deepak will now be playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has the ability to hit the ball hard and is a handy player in pressure situations. Another under-19 star, Hooda was picked by Rajasthan Royals in 2014 and the hard-hitting Baroda batsman made his presence felt the following year when he got the opportunity. The 20-year-old managed a strike-rate of over 150 in his nine innings. His 46 T20s have produced 450 runs including 2 fifties and his occasional off-spin has yielded 5 wickets. 2. Karun Nair (DD): Karun Nair. (Photo Source: BCCI) Another handy customer both with the bat and ball, Karun Nair will play for Delhi Daredevils and emerges out as a player to watch out. A proven performer in all formats, it is only a matter of time before Karun makes it to the Indian team. On India’s Test tour to Sri Lanka, he was called up for the third match, however, did not get a Test cap. With Rajasthan Royals, Karun formed a formidable alliance with Sanju Samson and showed the world his prowess with the bat. In 25 matches for RR, he scored 511 runs at a strike-rate of 135.54. 3. Shreyas Iyer (DD): Shreyas Iyer. (Photo Source: BCCI) In February 2015, Mumbai’s Shreyas Iyer was signed in during the IPL auction by the Delhi Daredevils for 2.6 crores making him the highest earning uncapped player in the tournament. He scored 439 runs in 14 matches, with a 33.76 average and a strike rate of 128.36, making him the 9th most consistent player and Emerging Player of IPL 8. In the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy, Iyer scored 1,321 including four tons and seven fifties at an average of 73.39, becoming the second player to score 1,300 runs in a single Ranji Trophy competition. The numbers suggest that the India cap isn’t too far away for this talented batsman. 4. Mayank Agarwal (DD): Mayank Agarwal. (Photo: BCCI) Mayank Agarwal is an explosive right-hand opening batsman from Bangalore, who has been a regular member of the Karnataka side. He has been a regular in the India A team and has done extremely well. The dashing opener loves to take on the bowling and plays a fearless brand of cricket. He is spectacular in the field as well. When South Africa toured India in 2015, Agarwal, playing for India A, he smashed 87 off just 49 balls to take his team over the line in a massive run-chase of 194. He has played 77 T20s and scored 1550 runs including 1 ton and 8 fifties. 5. Eklavya Dwivedi (GL): (Photo Source: CricBuzz) Uttar Pradesh’s Eklavya Dwivedi will be a part of Gujarat Lions and will play under the captaincy of his state teammate Suresh Raina. The wicketkeeper batsman is a treat to watch when he gets going and has the ability to hammer bowlers to all corners of the ground. During the 2016 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Dwivedi was UP’s highest run-scorer with 258 runs in nine matches at 51.60. That paid off handsomely for him, as he was bought by the Gujarat outfit for Rs 1 crore. His record in T20 cricket is solid. His 34 matches have produced 765 runs at an average of 40.26 including 3 fifties and he strikes at an impressive 130.10. He has taken 18 catches and effected 8 stumpings. 6. Nathu Singh (MI): (Photo Source: Twitter) Rajasthan fast bowler Nathu Singh burst into the limelight with figures of 7 for 87 on debut against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy 2015-16. Subsequently, he earned a place in the Board President XI’s squad for a two-day warm-up fixture against the visiting South Africans and impressed many with raw pace. The guy with the ‘spark’ as described by national selector Sandeep Patil, Singh is a sharp in-swing bowler. In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy he claimed 10 wickets in six matches, including a menacing spell of 4 for 13 against Kerala. At the IPL auction, he was picked up for Rs. 3.2 crores by Mumbai Indians after a round of fierce bidding which suggested that IPL talent scouts had seen something special in the 20-year-old pacer. 7. Yuzvendra Chahal (RCB): Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: BCCI) Yuzvendra Chahal is an attacking leg-spinner who has been a regular member of the Bangalore outfit since past two seasons. During last year’s IPL he played 15 matches for his team and picked up 23 wickets thereby finishing third on the most wicket takers list. Chahal first attracted attention when he took 34 wickets in the National Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy in 2009, ending the tournament as its leading wicket-taker and made his first-class debut for Haryana in the same year. He loves to toss the ball inviting batsmen to go after him that makes him great to watch. Even against big hitters he back himself and that is a positive sign for any spinner. 8. Murugan Ashwin (RPSG): (Photo Source: Twitter) Murugan Ashwin is a leg-spinner who finished the 2016 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as Tamil Nadu’s second highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets. A month later he acquired a contract with Rising Pune Supergiants for Rs. 4.5 crores. Although he has played just three first-class matches, his economy rate of 5.52 in the T20 tournament went a long way in securing him a spot with the new franchise. It will be fascinating to see him bowl in tandem with his Tamil Nadu teammate R Ashwin and the Pune outfit will hope for their successful partnership. The 25-year-old idolises Anil Kumble, and recently trained with Imran Tahir during South Africa’s tour of India in November. 9. Ankit Rajpoot (KKR): (Photo Source: BCCI) During UP’s successful campaign in the 2016 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, fast bowler Ankit Rajpoot was the tournament’s third-highest wicket taker with 14 wickets at an average of 14.21. In the IPL auction the same year, Kolkata Knight Riders shelled out Rs. 1.5 crore to buy him. Rajpoot was a part of the strong Chennai Super Kings set-up in the 2013 and 2014 IPL seasons, however, got limited opportunities. The right-arm quick is a swing bowler, who relies on subtle changes in length and bowls at a good clip. 70 wickets from 20 first-class matches at an average of 25.23 suggest that there is some potential in this tall 22-year-old pacer. 10. Suryakumar Yadav (KKR): Suryakumar Yadav. (Photo Source: BCCI) An aggressive batsman who also bowls, Suryakumar Yadav’s game is suited for the shorter versions of the game. He is a batsman who is not afraid to innovate and was signed by the Mumbai Indians in 2011, having played just one first-class game and in the 2014 auction, Kolkata Knight Riders got him for Rs. 70 lakhs. He played some brilliant innings for KKR coming lower down the order and wasn’t afraid to take on the best opposition bowlers. His team was crowned champions in 2014 and Yadav made 164 runs striking at 140.17. He scored 157 runs in the 2015 edition at a strike rate of 138.93. He was made the vice-captain of the KKR team in 2015 and that speaks volumes about the confidence the team management has in his abilities. Also read: The most valuable players in the IPL