J&K Dominance: Nine Players Shortlisted for IPL 2024 Showdown, Check List Here
J&K Dominance: Nine Players Shortlisted for IPL 2024 Showdown
Srinagar: As the cricketing world eagerly anticipates the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, nine talented players from Jammu & Kashmir are set to make their mark in Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena on December 19.
Breaking away from tradition, this auction marks the first instance of the IPL spectacle taking place overseas, featuring a pool of 333 players competing for lucrative IPL contracts.
Representing the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), the shortlisted players encompass a formidable mix of five bowlers and four all-rounders.
The bowling brigade includes Manit Singh Jasrotia, Basit Bashir, Waseem Bashir, Mujtaba Yousuf, and Rasikh Salam Dar. Complementing them are the versatile all-rounders Vivrant Sharma, Nasir Lone, Abid Mushtaq, and Shubham Singh Pundir.
Following rigorous tryouts with IPL teams, these players are now poised for the auction, their skills and potential on full display.
Vivrant Sharma, a standout performer from Jammu district, earned recognition for his explosive batting during the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 395 runs with an impressive average of 56.42. Last year, Sunrisers Hyderabad secured Sharma for a substantial Rs. 2.6 crore, marking him as the highest-bid uncapped all-rounder.
Nasir Lone, an energetic all-rounder from Bandipora in north Kashmir, has faced ups and downs in the previous IPL auctions. Despite going unsold in 2021 and 2022, the 26-year-old, known as “Nasir Kohli” for his aggressive batting, showcased his prowess in seven T20 matches, contributing with both bat and ball.
Left-arm spin sensation Abid Mushtaq, hailing from J&K’s Bhaderwah, left an indelible mark with 32 wickets in the Ranji Trophy last year, including a remarkable 8/18 against Vidarbha. Shubham Singh Pundir, a left-handed batter and spinner, led the J&K team in the 2022 Ranji Trophy and boasts an impressive record of 695 runs in 42 domestic T20 matches.
The roster also includes the 20-year-old speedster Manit Singh Jasrotia, left-arm pacer Basit Bashir, promising right-arm pacer Waseem Bashir, and left-arm pacer Mujtaba Yousuf. Returning to the IPL scene after a two-year ban, right-arm fast bowler Rasikh Salam Dar, who previously featured for Mumbai Indians and KKR, adds another intriguing dimension to the mix.
With the IPL auction on the horizon, all eyes will be on these players as they aim to secure coveted spots in the T20 extravaganza, showcasing the cricketing prowess from the picturesque region of Jammu & Kashmir.
