IPL 2021 Auction: Top five first-timers to watch out for

The Indian Premier League has always been a tournament that signifies the message "Yatra Pratibha Avsara Prapnotihi," which translates to “where talent meets opportunity.” A plethora of first-timers at the IPL Auction have gone for a good chunk of money in the past. One can expect no less at the forthcoming auction.

A bunch of cricketers who made it to the auction pool for the first time will have their fingers crossed and hope to get picked up and showcase their talent at the biggest stage. Let us take a look at some of the first-timers who might attract some bids on 18th February.

Dawid Malan

A name that has been synonymous in the world of T20 cricket recently. The Englishman is likely to be one of the top picks at this year’s auction. His impeccable performance for the Three Lions made him one of the best batsmen in the shortest form of the game. In December 2020, the 33-year-old became the first player in the history of T20I cricket to surpass the 900-point mark. Over the past seasons, English cricketers have broken the bank and received some of the highest bids, so you can expect no less when Malan's name is called.

Naveen ul Haq

The young Afghanistan pacer has not only played at the international level but has experience playing at various T20 leagues across the globe. Naveen ul Haq has already 50 wickets to his name in T20s. Afghan players have a history of making the most of IPL auctions in the past, and franchises will be looking to add the 21-year-old to their squads.

Mohammad Azharuddeen

They say you need to have a wicketkeeper, a wicketkeeper who can bat, a wicketkeeper who can play swashbuckling knocks and Kasargod-born Mohammed Azharuddeen checks all three criteria. Azharuddeen can be a value addition for the franchises at this auction.

Kyle Jamieson

The tall Kiwi all-rounder has the potential to become one of the world’s finest. A number of franchises have already expressed their interests in acquiring Jamieson for IPL 2021. He could come in handy with the bat and also give four crucial overs with the ball.

Vishnu Solanki

In the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, we witnessed the batting exploits of Vishnu Solanki. He played instrumental knocks that helped Baroda reach the final of the Indian domestic T20 tournament. The 28-year-old has a bunch of flamboyant shots in his batting repertoire, and his helicopter shot is the one that can steal the show.

Which of the first-timers would attract the biggest of bids at the auctions? Let us know in the comments down below.