Thirteen players from Vidarbha, including two capped cricketers, will be up for grabs during the IPL 2024 Mega Auction, scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released the finalized list of players on Friday night.
Key Players from Vidarbha
India pacer Umesh Yadav, who represented Gujarat Titans last season, has entered the auction with a base price of ₹2 crore. The 37-year-old veteran has an impressive record, with 148 IPL matches and nine T20 internationals to his name. Yadav was picked up by Gujarat Titans for ₹5.80 crore last year and has previously played for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, who was the vice-captain of Punjab Kings last season, will start with a base price of ₹1 crore. Jitesh played 14 matches in IPL 2023 and has also been part of the Mumbai Indians in the past.
Emerging Talent from Vidarbha
The uncapped Vidarbha players going into the auction include:
Shubham Dubey (Base price: ₹30 lakh): Dubey was picked by Rajasthan Royals last season for ₹5.80 crore after a strong bidding war. He has recently attended trials with franchises like Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians.
Atharva Taide: The opener, who was with Punjab Kings last season, played only two matches.
Yash Thakur: A standout pacer for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2023, Thakur took crucial wickets in 10 matches. He is currently recovering from a shin injury at the NCA in Bengaluru.
Harsh Dubey: The left-arm spinner has been exceptional in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, topping the wickets chart with 36 scalps. However, his performance in red-ball cricket raises questions about his IPL prospects.
Praful Hinge: Known for his bowling and six-hitting abilities in Vidarbha’s match against Gujarat.
Apoorv Wankhade, Karun Nair, Darshan Nalkande, Shubham Kapse, Saurabh Dubey and Dipesh Parwani
Franchise Interest
Several Vidarbha players, including Dubey and Thakur, have garnered attention from IPL franchises due to their performances in domestic cricket. The upcoming auction will determine if these talents secure a place in IPL 2024.