IPL 2018 Fantasy League: 5 free uncapped rookies you should consider
One good IPL season could make a cricketer's career, launching them from total obscurity to superstardom.
The Indian Premier League has always been a fantastic way of uncovering hidden gems - young cricketers that are unheard of suddenly become household names and fan favourites.
And it has happened time and again. Every single season of the IPL in its ten-year history has produced uncapped breakout Indian stars. Some have gone on to play for India and become global cricketing superstars, while others have shone brightly for one season and have disappeared back into obscurity.
With the 2018 edition of the IPL now in full swing, let us look at 5 uncapped rookies who've been making waves in the tournament so far.
#5 Nitish Rana
Having been picked up by the Mumbai Indians three years ago in 2015, the batsman from Delhi was unknown till last year's IPL when MI found him fit to bat at the top of the order.
Rana took his chance in IPL 2017 amassing 333 runs in the 12 innings he played last season with an average of just over 30 runs per game.
Given his performance last season, the Kolkata Knight Riders had their sights set on the youngster for this season. Starting from his base price of Rs. 20 Lakhs, KKR fought off stiff competition from Rana's former team Mumbai Indians, settling the final auction price at a whopping 3.4 Crore.
And sure enough, Nitish Rana has repaid KKR's faith in him.
Whenever he's had a chance to bat, Rana has made sure to contribute to the team's total, scoring 219 runs in his 9 outings so far with an impressive strike rate of 130 and at an average of 31.28.
If his batting prowess wasn't enough for you to consider adding him into your fantasy league team, Rana has now started bowling as well.
When called upon to bowl this season, he's been effective having picked up 4 wickets so far with an economy of 7.54 whilst breaking big crucial partnerships.