Preview: Domestic players aim to impress IPL scouts in Syed Mushtaq Ali tourney

Kolkata, Jan 20 (CRICKETNMORE) - Seasoned cricketers will look to re-assert themselves, while new faces will try to show their mettle in front of Indian Premier League (IPL) team scouts ahead of the auctions, when the knockout stages of the

During the previous edition, the knock-out leg saw five zones -- North, South, East, West and Central compete on a round robin basis. It meant that zonal teams had partial representation of players from each state.

Coming to the players, India's World Cup winners Gautam Gambhir (Delhi), Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh (Punjab) will have a point to prove after their respective IPL franchises chose not to retain them. 

Especially Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL winning captain Gambhir whose non-retention turned heads. Suresh Raina (Uttar Pradesh), who was retained by Chennai Super Kings, will also look to get back among runs ahead of the cash-rich league.

Among the younger crop, big-hitting Delhi wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant, who grabbed headlines by smashing a 32-ball century against Himachal Pradesh, will look to continue his superb form with the bat.

The southpaw, who became the second fastest century-maker in T20 world cricket after Chris Gayle, is the highest scorer in the competition so far amassing 278 runs in five matches.