IPL 2018: 5 Indian Pace Bowlers Whom The Franchises Will Target

There was a time when the fast bowling department would be India’s weak link, but things have changed. Indian fast bowling contingent in the U19 World Cup epitomizes this fact, who are bowling at better speeds when compared the Aussies or South Africans. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions lurking around the corner, these young talents are working hard to get noticed by the franchises.

Not just the U19 fast bowlers, but also a lot of budding cricketers and senior pros are really willing to impress the club owners. The IPL has got bigger and better right now and without a shadow of a doubt, the 11th edition promises to be the best ever. This is the very tournament which gave India some amazing fast bowlers and here’s the list of some exceptional fast bowlers from around the country, who will be the hottest prospects on the bidding day.

1. Mohammed Shami

How many in the country are as good and consistent as Mohammed Shami? Very few and those few bowlers were already retained by franchises. This means Shami is all set to create a bidding war amongst the clubs and his asking price can go 4 or 5 times more than the base price.

Shami has been missing out on a lot of IPL action over the last few years due to injuries. But he is a real game changer on his day. Many are believing Delhi Daredevils might use the Right To Match card to retain Shami, but what if his price exceeds Rs. 8-9 Crore? That’d be a big call for the Daredevils to make, but one thing is certain, his asking price will be very high.

2. Kamlesh Nagarkoti

A name that has been dominating the U19 headlines right now, Kamlesh Nagarkoti is all set to earn a massive IPL contract. We have seen in the past how the franchises get into a bidding war for trending talents. The likes of Pavan Negi, Mohammed Siraj, Basil Thampi etc induced quite a battle amongst the clubs and their asking price was humongous.

Many are expecting something similar to happen in Kamlesh’s case. This is a guy with some serious talent and unbelievable for his age. To hit the 140 km/h mark on regular basis is a difficult task for many International cricketers and here’s this guy, who does that for fun. He might be earning the best contract amongst all the U19 cricketers right now.

3. Umesh Yadav

The Kolkata Knight Riders already have a lot of choices for the RTM card, so they might not use it for Umesh Yadav. This makes thiings very compelling as Umesh Yadav is one such guy who will be asking a minimum of Rs. 5 Crore. The price can go well beyond that, but that’s the minimum amount a franchise should spend to earn his services.

Often criticized for concentrating too much on pace, Umesh Yadav has been bowling consistently these days. Although he is finding it difficult to break into the Indian side right now, his market value hasn’t dimished a single bit. An Indian fast bowler who can clock 140 km/h regularly is quite an asset, which makes Umesh all the more valuable.

4. Basil Thampi

Another young speedster who managed to hog a lot of limelight in the previous auction, Basil Thampi is quite a promising prospect. With his raw pace, all he needs is good mentorship and some more discipline with his lines. If he can work on that, this guy can do wonders not just in the IPL, but on any big stage at the International level.

The Gujarat Lions had to fight it off last time around to get him on their side. He proved to be good value for money as Thampi earned the “Best Emerging Player” award for the season. Since the Gujarat Lions got scrapped, no franchise can use the RTM card on him and this amazing talent is up for grabbing for all the franchises.

5. Mohammed Siraj

A scintillating IPL session and an unforgettable India A outing earned a well-deserved International debut for Mohammed Siraj. To even get into this auction as a capped Indian player must be a huge thing for the 23-year-old Hyderabadi. Son of an auto rickshaw driver, Siraj journey towards the elite level is all inspiring and worth an applause.

Just like Thampi, he has the raw pace which can trouble a lot of players. His International debut was a forgettable one, but he will be eager to make his mark in the upcoming IPL to ensure the selectors reconsider him. Will the Sunrisers Hyderabad use their RTM card for him? Maybe not! But VVS Laxman and Tom Moody will try hard to get him back in their side.