India’s domestic T20 tournament, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, ended with Tamil Nadu clinching their second successive title, and third overall, by defeating Karnataka in the final. Here is the list of players who would be hoping that their performances translate into a big IPL contract ahead of the mega-auction for the 2022 season.

Abhinav Manohar

The Karnataka batter ended with 162 runs at an average of 54 with a strike rate of an impressive 150. Making his domestic debut during the season, the 27-year-old impressed with his ability to remain calm under pressure. His high score of 70* was scored in the pre-quarters after Karnataka had been reduced to 60-4 while chasing Saurashtra’s 146. Walking in at number five, Abhinav Manohar got together with Aniruddha Joshi to pile on 64 runs in 11 overs. However, while Joshi was unable to get going, scoring 13 in 16, Manohar ensured that the run rate was not beyond control as he scored at a strike rate of 142.86 to take the team over the line.

He displayed his maturity in the finals as well, making 46 in only 37 balls to top-score from both sides. He also scored a nine-ball 19 and a 13-ball 27 in the edition and could be in demand during the auctions due to his finishing skills.

Tilak Varma

The number three from Hyderabad ended with 215 runs from seven innings at a strike rate of 147.26. Only three other batters in the tournament made more runs at a better strike rate than Tilak Varma. Though he started off with two low scores, he displayed his mettle with a knock of 61* that came in only 29 deliveries against Chandigarh to help his side chase down 163 with eight balls to spare. Varma can adapt his game according to the situation as was evident during the game against Delhi when he held one end up, scoring 37 in 32 after the fall of quick wickets.

Tanmay Agarwal

The only cricketer to score over 300 runs in the season, Tanmay Agarwal had a season to remember with four fifties, including a high score of 97*. A veteran in domestic cricket, having played 42 FC games and 34 List A games since 2014, Verma was never known to be a big-hitting batter but displayed he can be an all-format star, as he ended SMAT 2021/22 with a strike rate of over 148.

The opener ended the edition with knocks of 55 (35 balls), 97* (59), 34 (26), 54 (34), 62 (46), 31 (21) before notching up his sole single-digit innings against Tamil Nadu. He partnered with Hanuma Vihari to give Hyderabad fiery starts match-after-match, and with openers in heavy demand in the IPL, expect Varma, who comes in with plenty of experience as well, to be a big-budget player.

Darshan Nalkande

In the news for doing a Lasith Malinga by picking up four in four against Karnataka, the Vidarbha quick had an excellent season overall, finishing with 13 scalps in eight games at an average of 11.76. However, what was more impressive was his economy rate of 5.88, which was the best among all fast bowlers with at least 10 wickets in the edition. While his efforts against Karnataka was in the news, it was his 5-9 against Arunachal Pradesh that displayed why Nalkande is a threat. Capable of varying his pace and bowling in the middle overs as well, the youngster had troubled the rivals with his tight bowling to pick up five of the seven Arunachal wickets.

Nalkande has been with Punjab Kings since IPL 2019 but is yet to make his debut in the tournament. A handy batter as well, Nalkande’s stocks are expected to increase during the auction.

Sai Kishore

Not an unknown name, having been associated with Chennai Super Kings in the past, Sai Kishore had a season to remember with the ball. The spinner was Tamil Nadu’s top wicket-taker in the edition, picking up 10 wickets at an average of less than 20, with his efforts taking the team to their third title. The bowler left his best for the last, with his 3-12 in the finals making life miserable for the opposition.

Kishore started by dismissing Roham Kadam off the first ball that he bowled in the finals, getting him out with a ball that dipped and then turned sharply in, before going on to get the wickets of Manish Pandey and Sharath BR. His pace variations and his ability to tempt the batters to play the ball make him unplayable on occasions, and with spinners always in demand in the IPL, Kishore could be in line for a big deal.