Baba Aparajith, IPL 2018, Chennai Super Kings,
Baba Aparajith is somewhat dejected to miss out on IPL 2018 bid. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Baba Aparajith was one of the three players from the Under19 team in 2012 who was deemed to be a future star by cricketing pundits.

Interestingly, Aparajith was adjudged Man of the Match in the semi-final of 2012 U19 World Cup under Umkut Chand’s leadership. He scored a half-century in a low scoring encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Aparajith made his first-class debut at the 17 and looked to be a bright prospect for Team India.

The 23-year-old Aparajith continued to get opportunities in Duleep Trophy. He has also played for India A but hasn’t been able to come close to a national call-up.

Baba Aparajith, IPL 2018, Sandeep Sharma, Chennai Super Kings,
Sandeep Sharma. Photo Credit: IPL

In fact, Sandeep Sharma is the only player from that U19 group who has played for India and is also a regular part of the Indian Premier League.

Chennai-based Aparajith has not played IPL till now, despite being part of IPL franchises from past five years.

Batting all-rounder Aparajith was bought by Chennai Super Kings in 2013 IPL auction. However, he moved to Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016 auction. He stayed with Mahendra Singh Dhoni all five years – with four years Dhoni as captain – which was probably the reason behind him not a getting a chance.

With Dhoni preferring Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin more (during CSK days) there was no chance that he could have made it to the playing XI.

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After spending five years on the bench, he went unsold in IPL auction 2018, which was quite a bit surprising to him.

“I was confident that some team would go for me given the fact that I was with a couple of teams for the last five years,” Aparajith told TOI.

Apart from Aparajith, Ricky Bhui and Ankush Bains are the players who have spent more than three in a franchise, without playing for them.

Both Aparajith and Bains went unsold in the IPL auction in 2018 while Bhui was again purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Baba Aparajith went to the trials of Mumbai Indians but this couldn’t land him an IPL contract,

“I first thought that there would be a lesser number of players but there were about 100-odd cricketers in the trials. I realised you have to do something extra-ordinary out there and then follow it up with a good show in Syed Mushtaq Ali to keep yourself on the radar. It’s a combination of factors. I realised just because you have been called for trials by a franchisee doesn’t mean you are on their radar. Yet, I was hopeful,” he added.

It’s quite itchy for a player to spend five years on the bench and then going unsold in the sixth year, but IPL auction has always sprung up surprises.

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Baba Aparajith, IPL 2018, Chennai Super Kings, Tymal Mills, IPL Auction 2018
Image Courtesy: BCCI

Tymal Mills, who went to Royal Challengers for Rs 12 Crore, went unsold this year.

Hashim Amla, who scored two centuries in previous IPL, also found no buyer.

Chris Gayle, the top T20 player, only found a buyer in the last round of the IPL auction.

Now, when the season is over for Tamil Nadu, it is surely the time for Aparajtih – to prepare and come back stronger in the next season.

Follow more news about IPL 2018 here.

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