Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Nov 25 (UNI) The IPL 2025 auction delivered a number of surprises as several prominent players, including international stars, went unsold in the opening rounds.
Despite their long-standing contributions to the tournament and international cricket, the absence of bids for these players raised eyebrows across the cricketing world.
Among the most notable names who found no takers were former Australian captain David Warner, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, and India’s Ajinkya Rahane. Warner, a legendary figure in the IPL, with a wealth of experience and consistent performances, was expected to attract interest, but remained unsold.
Similarly, Williamson, despite his leadership credentials and past success in the IPL, could not generate any offers. Rahane, a seasoned batter, may have to wait for the accelerated rounds to re-enter the bidding process.
Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who has been a key player in previous IPL seasons, also went unsold. Despite a base price of ₹2 crore, Mujeeb did not receive any bids, further underscoring the changing dynamics of the auction. Another surprise came with Piyush Chawla, an experienced IPL spinner, whose base price of ₹50 lakh didn’t attract any attention either.
Other established names, such as Daryl Mitchell, Umran Malik, and Mustafizur Rahman, also went unsold, leaving fans and experts perplexed. Mitchell, a former Super Kings and Royals player, was another high-profile name who did not find any takers.
India’s fast-bowler Umesh Yadav, despite his IPL experience, was similarly overlooked, as was Umran Malik, the young pacer known for his speed but left without any bids.
The trend has led to discussions about the franchises’ focus on younger, more versatile players, with many teams choosing to invest in up-and-coming talent rather than established stars.
Although the auction has seen some major names snubbed, there remains hope that a few of these unsold players may yet find their way back into the tournament as teams reassess their strategies in the later rounds.
With the auction still ongoing, it remains to be seen whether these unsold players will get another chance, and what this shift in team-building strategies means for the future of the IPL.
