IPL 2025: 5 released players who might go unsold in the upcoming auction

IPL 2025 (Source -Getty Images)

The excitement in the cricket fraternity is palpable as the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to have another mega-auction reportedly in the last week of November in Saudi Arabia. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is gearing up to make the mega-auction a grand affair, while fans are waiting to see how their favorite teams go about assembling their squads.

When the teams announced their retentions on October 31, some calls took the fans by surprise. However, most of the retentions and releases were along the expected lines. With the mega-auction set to be held in the coming weeks, franchises are busy making their last-minute plans as they look to bolster their side with key additions ahead of IPL 2025.

In the impending mega-auction, there is a possibility of some established names in world cricket not finding teams and going unsold. CricTracker has curated a list of five renowned players who could go unsold at the auction.

Also Check: Reports: Riyadh to host IPL 2025 mega auction on November 24, 25

Here are the top five released players who might go unsold in the upcoming auction:

5. Matthew Wade

Matthew Wade made his IPL debut in 2011 even before he had played his first match for the Australian senior team. However, he has just played 15 matches in the cash-rich league. The wicketkeeper-batter has only scored 183 at an average of 13.07 and a strike rate of 103.39.

Wade was with Gujarat Titans in the last three seasons of the IPL. He played 10 matches in the franchise’s maiden season in the tournament and didn’t make too many notable contributions. However, the team went on to win the tournament by beating Rajasthan Royals in the final. Wade didn’t get a game in IPL 2023 and featured only twice in the playing XI last season. The 36-year-old has led the Australian team in the T20 format in recent times as a stand-by. However, he is unlikely to attract bids at the auction.

Also Check: 5 surprising releases by IPL franchises before 2025 auction

4. Keshav Maharaj

Keshav Maharaj was roped in by Rajasthan Royals as the replacement for Prasidh Krishna in IPL 2024. The experienced left-arm spinner from South Africa played just two games in which he took two wickets at an average of 19.50 and an economy rate of 6.50. In T20Is, the 34-year-old has bagged 35 wickets from as many games at an average of 24.17 and an economy rate of 7.12.

What could go against Maharaj is his batting ability, which is decent in the longest formats of the game but not suitable for T20 cricket. India has several left-arm-spin-bowling all-rounders in the domestic circuit. Picking an overseas spinner, who isn’t going to add much to the batting department, could be a surprising call.

Also Check: IPL 2025: Rating teams based on their retentions and releases

3. Shai Hope

The West Indies ODI captain has improved his T20 game considerably in recent years. Shai Hope has added more muscles, which have helped him hit the lofted shots. He had the gift of timing from the early stages of his career but the way he has worked on his power-hitting has been commendable. Hope was roped in by Delhi Capitals for INR 75 lakh in the IPL 2024 mini-auction. The Barbados-born played nine matches in the season and scored 183 runs at an average of 22.88 and a strike rate of 150.

Hope played only a couple of games for the West Indies in this year’s T20 World Cup and couldn’t get much success. He had a great series against South Africa but couldn’t continue the good form recently in Sri Lanka. The five-match T20I series against England, starting on November 10, would be very important for the 30-year-old. A solid performance could get him back into the IPL. However, it is difficult for overseas wicketkeepers to find takers at the auction unless they are highly rated in the format. Hope still has a long way to get there.

Also Check: IPL 2025: 5 players who can trigger bidding war between CSK and MI at upcoming mega-auction

2. Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson is one of the biggest names that could go unsold at the IPL auction this year. The star New Zealand batter played just two matches in IPL 2024 for the Gujarat Titans. He has the experience of playing 79 IPL games in which he has aggregated a tally of 2,128 runs at an average of 35.47 and a strike rate of 125.62.

Williamson relinquished captaincy of New Zealand’s white-ball teams and also rejected a central contract with the BlackCaps in an effort to prolong his international career. The stalwart has been dealing with injury setbacks as he missed the entire Test series between India and New Zealand recently. Teams could be reluctant to bring in the former Orange Cap winner due to his issues with injury and lack of game time in international cricket as well as the top T20 leagues.

Also Check: 3 teams that might target Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025

1. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane could be the most renowned Indian player to go unsold at the IPL mega-auction this year. The Mumbai batter joined CSK ahead of IPL 2023 for INR 50 lakhs. He had a splendid first season in the Yellow jersey as he slammed 326 runs at a strike rate of 172.49 and helped the MS Dhoni-led side win their fifth IPL title.

However, he failed to live up to his lofty standards in the following season, finishing with just 242 runs from 13 matches at a meager average of 20.17 and an abysmal strike rate of 123.47. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 begins on November 23 and if the auction commences on November 25, Rahane will get only one game against Goa to give everyone a reminder about his potential as a batter in T20 cricket.

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