4 players who shockingly went unsold at IPL 2024 auctions

The IPL 2024 auctions saw lucrative deals for players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Alzarri Joseph, and Daryl Mitchell, securing substantial contracts with various franchises. However, for some players, the auctions were disappointing, as they failed to attract any buyers for several reasons.

Several players faced the unexpected disappointment of going unsold not just once but twice, even during the accelerated bidding rounds. Among them were a few players whose lack of interest from franchises was unforeseen, considering their skills and track records.

Here are four players who surprisingly remained unsold at the auctions:

1. Josh Hazlewood (Base Price - Rs 2 crore)

Josh Hazlewood, Australia's leading bowler in the 2023 World Cup, surprisingly went unsold at the auctions. His unavailability during the March-April season due to personal commitments became the primary reason for franchises passing on him.

Hazlewood's prior indication of being unavailable during the IPL season led to the belief that he might miss a significant number of matches from late March to April. Despite this, any team could have secured him, similar to Mumbai Indians' strategy with Jofra Archer in the 2022 IPL auctions.

2. Phil Salt (Base Price - Rs 1.5 crore)

English player Phil Salt, who had an impressive debut season in IPL 2023 with Delhi Capitals, surprisingly went unsold this time. His remarkable strike rate of 163.91 and impressive innings, especially his 87-run knock against Royal Challengers Bangalore, made his omission unexpected.

Despite his successful debut season, Salt, with a base price of Rs 1.5 crore, did not find any buyers during the auctions. However, he remains a potential trade option if any team faces injuries or specific requirements during the tournament.

3. Josh Inglis (Base Price - Rs 2 crore)

The exclusion of Australian wicket-keeper batter Josh Inglis from the auctions was another surprising turn of events. With a commendable strike rate of 148.86 in domestic T20 matches and an even better international T20 strike rate of 158.60, Inglis' unsold status was unexpected in the world's premier T20 league.

Despite his impressive credentials, he did not attract any bids, making his omission from the IPL auctions quite astonishing.

4. Steven Smith (Base Price - Rs 2 crore)

Steven Smith's unsold status at the auctions hints that his IPL career might be nearing its end. Renowned for his ability to stabilize a team's scorecard and score quick boundaries, Smith was a sought-after player in the IPL.

Formerly the backbone of Rajasthan Royals and later part of Delhi Capitals, Smith's decline in strike rate to around 112.59 worked against him in the fast-paced T20 format.

With no bids in the auctions, it seems Smith might not feature in the IPL going forward, possibly transitioning into a mentor or coach role for a team.