Records, Surprises, Notable Unsold Players

Auction Highlights

Rishabh Pant grabbed headlines as the most expensive purchase in IPL history by securing a record INR 27 crore contract with Lucknow Super Giants. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals shocked the cricket world by picking 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, making him the youngest player to be drafted in the IPL.

But the auction wasn’t just about a huge payday. Several established stars and young talents surprisingly failed to sell, leaving fans and analysts scratching their heads.

Big names that aren’t sold

batter

Despite outstanding careers, several top batsmen failed to attract bids, signaling a change in team dynamics and strategy.

• 
  David Warner (Base price: INR 2 crore)
• 
  Kane Williamson (Base price: INR 2 crore)
• 
  Prithvi Show (Base price: INR 75 lakh)
• 
  Mayank Agarwal (Base price: INR 1 crore)

It was especially surprising that there were no bids for Warner and Williamson, considering they have both been consistent performers in the league for several years.

bowler

Despite the dominating bowlers in IPL history, some big names have failed to find takers.

• 
  Piyush Chalaone of the highest wicket takers in the league, was not sold at the base price of INR 50 lakh.
• 
  Mustafizur Rahman and Navin-ul-HaqBoth were set at INR 2 crore and failed to find a buyer.
• Includes other notable unsold bowlers mujib ur rahman, Jason Berendorfand Umesh Yadav.

universal

Despite its versatile usefulness, Impact Player Rules The importance of all-rounders in team compositions seems to have diminished.

• 
  Shardul Thakur (Base price: INR 2 crore)
• 
  Daryl Mitchell (Base price: INR 2 crore)
• 
  Sikandar Raja and Kyle MeyersThe stars of recent international tournaments also went unsold.

turnstile keeper

Absence of UK bid Jonny Bairstow (Base price: INR 2 crore) Eyebrows raised. Including goalkeepers Alex Carey and Josh PhillipIt also remains unsold.

A new theme for the auction

• 
  younger than experience: The focus on young players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi suggests the team is prioritizing long-term investments over established veterans.
• 
  professional role: Through the following tactical innovations: Impact Player RulesTeams seem to prefer players with highly specialized skills rather than multi-dimensional cricketers.
• 
  market dynamics: The high base price has stopped many seasoned players from bidding, indicating that veterans need to reevaluate their value.

opportunities ahead

Unsold players don’t lose everything. The franchise may hire them as replacement players during the season in case of injury or withdrawal.

The IPL 2025 auction was a spectacle that highlighted the ever-evolving nature of cricket’s most popular league. While some players are delighted, others will be looking forward to future opportunities to shine on the epic stage.