In a surprising turn of events at the IPL auction 2025 several high-profile players failed to attract any bids, with David Warner and Shardul Thakur emerging as the biggest names to go unsold. The two-day auction in Jeddah saw a number of established stars overlooked, leaving many to wonder about their future in the tournament.
David Warner, the 38-year-old Australian opener, who retired from international cricket in June, entered the auction with a base price of INR 2 crore. Despite his illustrious IPL career, which includes over 6500 runs and seven 500-plus seasons, Warner’s name went unsold after the first round. Though his recent form had been underwhelming, with only 168 runs from eight matches for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, his record as one of the league’s most prolific overseas batters had many expecting interest. Warner did not find any takers during the accelerated round either, raising questions about whether his IPL career has come to an end.
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Alongside Warner, Shardul Thakur, the seam-bowling allrounder, also went unsold. Thakur, who had a base price of INR 2 crore, struggled with injuries and form in recent years. After undergoing foot surgery in June, he made a comeback in October but has not represented India since December 2023. He played for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024 but was not able to deliver the expected performances, with just five wickets in nine matches. His unsold status highlights the increasing emphasis on current form and fitness at the auction.
Other notable players to be overlooked included Prithvi Shaw, who has struggled with form in recent seasons, and Jonny Bairstow, the England opener, who failed to secure a bid despite his explosive strike rate with Punjab Kings. Daryl Mitchell, bought by Chennai Super Kings for INR 14 crore at the 2024 mini-auction, also went unsold this time with a base price of INR 2 crore.
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The absence of bids for these players signals a shifting landscape in the IPL, where emerging talent and consistent performers are increasingly becoming the focus of franchises.
