IPL 2018 Auction: 5 star performers from last season who got their due

"Work hard and everything else will follow" is not just a saying. The Indian Premier League has been a big stage for lesser-known players to make it big and win recognition from all over the world.

It is the hard work of the team management who unearth these cricketing gems from all over the world and give them an opportunity to showcase their ability and hone under the guidance of some of the best coaches in the world, and of players themselves.

Every year, the league sees a number of players who use the opportunity to display their potential, delivering spectacular performances for the franchises. Some players come to the limelight in a matter of days while some may take a season or two to get noticed.

Here are a few players who performed brilliantly in the last season and earned big in the auction this year.

#5 Nitish Rana

Auction 2015: Rs. 10 lakh (Mumbai Indians)

Auction 2018: Rs. 3.4 crore (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The Delhi-born batsman grabbed eyeballs in the last season of the IPL after he consistently performed with the bat for the Mumbai Indians.

Nitish Rana, who was bought by the franchise in 2015 at his base price of Rs. 10 lakh, did not get many chances to show his potential until last year.

In the 2017 edition, he scored 333 runs in 13 matches at an average of 30.27 and a strike rate of 126.13. He drew attention soon after he grabbed the orange cap for some time in the initial half of the tournament.

His contributions in the initial half of the tournament played a bigger role in Mumbai Indians finishing at the top of the points table. He took home a bigger amount this season when Kolkata Knight Riders shelled out Rs. 3.4 crore for him.