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The IPL 2025 auction witnessed some surprising outcomes as several big names went unsold, leaving fans and analysts alike in shock. Among the most notable players to go without a buyer were veteran Australian cricketer David Warner and Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur, along with a few other prominent figures like Prithvi Shaw and Jonny Bairstow.
David Warner: The Big Surprise of No-Bid in Auction in IPL 2025
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One of the biggest surprises of the IPL 2025 auction would be that no one bid for the 38-year-old David Warner. The Australian opening batsman, who retired from international cricket in June 2024, had a base price of ₹2 crore. Considering the profile of this player, one of the most successful players in the history of the Indian Premier League, no one seemed to bid for him in the auction. It was even mentioned in the accelerated round on Monday, but no team has shown interest in acquiring his services yet.
Warner’s IPL credentials are exceptional—he is the highest run-scorer among foreign players in the tournament’s history with a total of 6565 runs from 184 matches. He sits fourth on the all-time IPL run-scorer list behind Indian giants Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, and Rohit Sharma. However, the recent form cannot be the reason Warner is unsold so far. In IPL 2024, he could score only 168 runs in eight innings for Delhi Capitals at a strike rate of 134.40.
Notwithstanding his failures in the IPL, Warner continues to be a star player in other formats. He was the highest run-getter in the MAX60, staged in the Caribbean, in August 2024. At a strike rate of 181.09, he aggregated 297 runs. Moreover, he is going to play for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 league in 2025.
Shardul Thakur: Poor Auction for the All-Rounder in IPL 2025
Shardul Thakur, one of the mainstays of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the last few IPL seasons, was another big name left unsold. Based at ₹2 crore, Thakur played nine matches for CSK in IPL 2024, taking five wickets at a miserly economy rate of 9.75. Handy lower-order batsman that he is, he managed only 21 runs from three innings last season.
Thakur’s poor showings in recent times, both for his franchise and country, have probably added to the fact that he has not received much interest from teams. He hasn’t played for India since December 2023 and was forced to undergo foot surgery in June. Thakur returned to competitive cricket during the Irani Cup, held in October 2024, but it wouldn’t suffice for the IPL franchises, which remain unconvinced by his recent form.
Prithvi Shaw: The Once-Great Talent Now Without a Buyer in IPL 2025
Prithvi Shaw, who had once been considered one of the most sparkling talents in Indian cricket, was also unsold during the auction for IPL 2025.
Shaw, retained by Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of IPL 2022, has a base price of ₹75 lakh. However, after failing to perform in the last two IPL seasons, Shaw was dropped in favor of young Abhishek Porel in the 2024 season. He could not end his run of poor form even in domestic cricket, and he was recently shown the door from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad. With no bids coming his way, Shaw’s future in the IPL appears uncertain.
Jonny Bairstow and Daryl Mitchell: More Surprises in IPL 2025
One of the more significant names to not find a buyer was English wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow, who has been with Punjab Kings (PBKS) since 2022 and now up to 2024. With an excellent strike rate of 148.92 and 551 runs in 22 innings, Bairstow has been in consistent form for IPL. His base price of ₹2 crore was too high for anyone to take the risk on him.
New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell is another cricketer who has been successful with CSK while representing IPL in 2024. No one is eyeing him, though he was purchased by CSK for ₹14 crore at the mini-auction last year. He is carrying a base price of ₹2 crore but went without any bid this time round. Perhaps his failure to sustain performances may have contributed to this scenario.
The Changing IPL 2025 Auction Landscape
It is also a symptom of changing IPL auctions the teams are more discerning in their purchases and are looking for younger players or more recently performing ones rather than putting money on established names. The dynamics of modern cricket, be it fitness, current form, and ability to adapt well to the T20 format, seem to be playing a larger role in franchise decisions than ever before.
While some of the unsold players might get a chance as replacements or through mid-season additions, the lack of interest in the auction gives a glimpse into a rising trend of teams favoring youngsters and potential over experience.
Conclusion: A Competitive IPL 2025 Auction Ahead
The IPL 2025 auction has marked the entry into the exciting season ahead, but in the process, there were also some surprising omissions.
Among the key players who went unsold were Warner, Thakur, Shaw, Bairstow, and Mitchell. The auction again underlined very fierce competition in getting a spot in the tournament. With time gaining, perhaps franchisees have started focusing more on filling a side with players who can offer the T20 format more prominently, and the unsold players must rethink their strategy in the near future if they want to get a chance into the league.
ALSO READ: IPL 2025: A Glimpse At 1st Day Of Auction
