The IPL auction for the 2025 edition took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where a total of 182 players were picked by 10 teams. The highlight of the auction was Rishabh Pant becoming the most expensive player in IPL history. However, there were some surprising unsold players who have been regular faces in the league in recent seasons.
David Warner, one of the greatest openers in IPL history, went unsold despite being recalled towards the end of the auction. Shardul Thakur, who has been an all-format player for India, also found himself without a contract after being benched for most of Chennai Super Kings’ games last season.
Mayank Agarwal, known for his consistency as a Karnataka captain, was expected to be picked up as a backup opener due to the scarcity of experienced Indian batters in the league. Kane Williamson, labeled as too conventional for the T20 format, also went unsold despite his past performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans.
Jonny Bairstow, who previously formed a destructive opening partnership with Warner, struggled with consistency after moving to Punjab Kings. Despite his wicket-keeping abilities, teams chose not to pick him up in the auction.
Overall, the IPL 2025 auction saw some surprising decisions as familiar faces in the league went unsold, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the player selection process.
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