We are done with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as Tamil Nadu are crowned the deserving winners of the tournament. Throughout the stage, we witnessed multiple knocks from the talented Indian youngsters which either made way into the record books of cricket or if not for a significant landmark, assisted their teams in winning crucial encounters. With it being the first domestic tournament to be contested after the Covid pandemic and lockdown, majority of the star Indian players were available and were indeed prized possession for their sides. Their presence, in turn, augmented the value of the tournament as cricket maniacs closely followed the action either on the TV or through digital platforms.
With the auction just around the corner for IPL 2021, these youngsters left no stone unturned to get picked in the cash-rich league. Just as the fans, the owners too kept a track of all the events that took place at the competition and would have already prepared a probable list of players they would like to buy. In the below piece, we look at 5 such batsmen, who could earn a contract at the auction ahead of IPL 2021:
1. Avi Barot
This right-handed batsman from Saurashtra is the fourth-highest run-getter in the competition. He has compiled 283 runs from 5 games at an average of 56.60 and strike rate of 184.96.
His best score of 122 came against Goa as part of the Elite Group D game. The former who batted first posted 215-5 on the back of a solid knock of 122 off 53 balls by Barot, which in the end proved too hefty for Goa, who were bundled out for 125 and handed their opposition a win by 90 runs.
2. Gahlaut Rahul Singh
This southpaw from Services has smacked 244 runs from 5 games at an average of 81.33 and strike rate of 176.81. Rahul’s best score came against Saurashtra, also as a part of the Elite Group D game.
Services while batting first posted 163-4 courtesy a brilliant innings of 76 off 40 balls by Rahul. The knock, unfortunately, went in vain as Saurashtra chased the total down by 3 wickets and 5 balls to spare.
3. Sheldon Jackson
It is disheartening to see promising talents like Jackson not getting their due opportunities at the international level, inspite of piling up plenty of runs at the domestic circuit.
This star wicketkeeper-batsman, who represents the union territory of Pondicherry, is once again among the runs in this tournament, smashing 242 runs from 5 games at an average of 80.66 and strike rate of 155.12.
His best score came against Andhra Pradesh as a part of the Elite Group E fixture. Chasing a mammoth total of 227, Pondicherry in the abled presence of Jackson, who plundered 106 off 50 balls, crossed the line by 4 wickets and 4 balls to spare.
4. Venkatesh Iyer
Predominantly a right-arm medium-pace bowler, Iyer has stolen the limelight with his impeccable batsmanship for Madhya Pradesh. The southpaw has hammered 227 runs from 5 games at an average of 75.66 and strike rate of 149.34 in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
His highest score came against Saurashtra as a part of the Elite Group D contest. Racing against time to chase a tricky total of 181, Madhya Pradesh achieved it with utter ease, owing to a wonderful knock of 88 off 53 balls by Iyer, helping his side win by 6 wickets and an over to spare.
5. Mohammed Azharuddeen
This rising wicketkeeper-batsman from Kerala, who has been named after his idol, the great Indian batsman, Mohammad Azharuddin, has taken the tournament by storm. The right-hand batsman has slaughtered 214 runs from 5 games at an average of 53.50 and strike rate of 194.54.
His highest score came against Mumbai as a part of Elite Group E game. Chasing a daunting total of 197, Kerala on the back of an incredible innings of 137 off 54 balls by Azharuddeen, accomplished the task by 8 wickets and sparring 25 balls.
