The IPL 2024 auction saw 333 players going under the hammer on December 19. The auction was hosted outside India for the first time, with Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena being the venue.
A total of 72 spots were filled out of 77 available vacancies in the auction with the ten franchises splurging huge amounts of money. Pat Cummins (INR 20.50 Cr) and Micthell Starc (INR 24.75 Cr.) were the standout buys as both broke the 20 Cr rupee barrier and became the two most expensive players ever in IPL auction history.
However, there were some surprises as well, as players who have a good record in T20 cricket went unsold. No reasons why given as to why some of the best performers in the shortest format went unsold. But issues with form, past performances, injuries, and unsuitability in the franchise’s plans can be cited as to why players went unsold.
However, there is a chance that they might be bought into the side later on as replacement players and in this piece, we take a look at five such players who might be called for service later on despite going unsold in the IPL 2024 auction.
Here are the five unsold players in IPL 2024 auction who can be picked later:
5. James Neesham
James Neesham. (Photo Source: Twitter)
James Neesham has always been a part of one or another franchise in the Indian Premier League. He has played 12 matches across three seasons in 2014, 2020, and 2021 scored 60 runs, and picked 8 wickets. One of the biggest reasons for his poor performance is that franchises have not shown confidence in him to give him consistent chances.
However, there are always chances of players pulling out or getting injured and Neesham might be asked to come and fill in by any of the franchises. He has a good record in T20s, scoring 3514 runs and taking 209 wickets in 254 matches. His strike rate with the bat is 142.15 and economy with the ball is 9.00.
4. Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan is a talent who has been unable to justify it with his bat when it comes to the shortest format of the game. He has an envious FC record of 3657 runs in 41 matches with an average of 71.70. He has scored 13 centuries and 10 fifties and has a best score of 301*. However, when it comes to T20s, he has 1188 runs in 96 games with just three fifties and a strike rate of 128.29.
He had a golden chance to prove his critics wrong when Delhi Capitals handed him the job of keeping wickets and batting at the top of the order. But his technical weakness against extreme pace and short balls was exposed and he was released. He couldn’t find a buyer in the IPL 2024 auction but might be one of the contenders whom the franchise might pick to replace someone else.
3. Adam Milne
Adam Milne. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Adam Milne is an extremely talented New Zealand pacer, but his tendency to get injured has hampered his career in the IPL. He has played 10 matches and picked 7 wickets across four seasons. His last stint was with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2022, where he played one match and then got injured and was ruled out of the tournament.
2. Jason Holder
Jason Holder has been very good for West Indies in the T20 format and has had a good IPL career also. He has scored 259 runs in 46 IPL matches and taken 53 wickets with a best of 4/52. A top-quality all-rounder is always in demand in IPL, hence it was a surprise when franchises passed on the chance to buy the former West Indies captain in the IPL 2024 auction.
While he is a good all-rounder, off late his death overs bowling has been an issue in IPL, where he played two seasons for Rajasthan Royals. He also couldn’t do much with the bat either. Restraints of franchises with the budgets also played a role in him going unsold. It seems that Holder will be a preferred choice if any of the franchises require a replacement player.
1. Phil Salt
Philip Salt. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Phil Salt had a decent outing in his maiden IPL season in 2023, where he played for Delhi Capitals. He made 218 runs while opening the innings with 2 fifties and a best score of 87. He scored his runs at a strike rate of 163.91. Apart from this, he became the preferred opener in T20Is for England as well.
And showed his prowess by hitting two consecutive centuries in two T20Is against West Indies recently. However, he still failed to find a buyer in the IPL 2024 auction, which surprised a lot of experts and even Salt himself. However, given his amazing batting prowess and added value as an opener, Salt might find his way eventually into the IPL 2024 as a replacement player.