SRINAGAR: Nine players from Jammu & Kashmir have made the cut for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in 2024, set to unfold in Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena on December 19. Marking a departure from tradition, this auction will be the first to take place overseas, featuring 333 players vying for IPL contracts.
The shortlisted players, all representing the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), consist of five bowlers; Manit Singh Jasrotia, Basit Bashir, Waseem Bashir, Mujtaba Yousuf, and Rasikh Salam Dar. Additionally, four all-rounders who have made the list are Vivrant Sharma, Nasir Lone, Abid Mushtaq, and Shubham Singh Pundir.
The players, having undergone tryouts with IPL teams, are now slated for auction, with
Examining their career statistics, Vivrant Sharma, a standout performer from Jammu district, gained attention for his explosive batting in the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy, accumulating 395 runs with an average of 56.42. Last year, Sunrisers Hyderabad secured Sharma for a substantial Rs. 2.6 crore, making him the highest-bid uncapped all-rounder.
Nasir Lone, an energetic all-rounder from Bandipora in north Kashmir, previously went unsold in the 2021 and 2022 IPL auctions. Despite this, the 26-year-old, known as “Nasir Kohli” for his aggressive batting, showcased his skills in seven T20 matches, scoring 11 runs and claiming two wickets.
Left-arm spin sensation Abid Mushtaq, hailing from J&K’s Bhaderwah, made a mark with 32 wickets in the Ranji Trophy last year, including an impressive 8/18 against Vidarbha. Shubham Singh Pundir, a left-handed batter and spinner, captained the J&K team in the 2022 Ranji Trophy and boasts 695 runs in 42 domestic T20 matches.
The list also features the 20-year-old speedster, Manit Singh Jasrotia, the left-arm pacer Basit Bashir, the promising right-arm pacer Waseem Bashir, and the left-arm pacer Mujtaba Yousuf. Rasikh Salam Dar, a right-arm fast bowler, returns to the IPL scene after serving a two-year ban and previously featuring for Mumbai Indians and KKR.
All eyes will be on the IPL auction as these players aim to secure coveted spots in the T20 extravaganza.
