IPL 2025: Top 5 Shocking Unsold Star Players in the IPL history

Regardless of how many T20 competitions emerge in other countries each year, the Indian Premier League remains the most-watched cricket league globally. The 2018 edition promises a thrill, with each squad vying for the prized trophy. This year's mega auction included 1574 registered players, with the BCCI settling on a total of 574 names going under the hammer.

366 names were Indian/domestic players, 208 are overseas cricketers, including three associate nation players, were under all the teams radar between November 24th and 25th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. However, this year's IPL mega auction has generated some surprise buyers and unsold talents throughout the years, causing a lot of debate among fans and critics. Here is a list of five renowned players who went unsold during the IPL Auction and deserved to make it through the lucrative cricket competition, even after their stupendous contributions. 

David Warner

David Warner, the swashbuckling left-hand batter from down under, has got unsold in the ongoing 2025 IPL Mega Auction, which has undoubtedly raised the eyebrows of many. David Warner, an IPL icon, is a former winning captain who has led Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first-ever title in 2016. Despite his outstanding league record, his past two seasons were ordinary, especially given his lofty expectations. As a result, when his name was called, no franchise raised their paddles, and the former IPL captain went unsold at the auction. In 184 matches, he has made 6565 runs at an average of over 40 while striking 62 half-centuries and four centuries, making him the fourth-highest run-getter in IPL.

Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly, an Indian cricketing star, was released by his home team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, and 'Dada' found plenty of suitors at the 2011 auction. Indeed, it was a shock for many fanatics and critics, and they raised their voices and protested the Knight Rider's big step for a brief period. Despite Ganguly being signed by the Pune Warriors (gone) during the season to replace the injured Ashish Nehra, it served as a clear reminder that teams valued form and age over fame and notoriety. In 59 IPL appearances, he scored 1349 runs at an average of more than 25 and took ten wickets.  

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow of England and David Warner had a devastating opening combination against Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, since joining Punjab Kings, the Yorkshire batter has battled for consistency. Despite his lack of form, Bairstow's ability to keep wickets would have been advantageous for the teams, but they chose not to pursue that option, leaving the player unsold. 

Bairstow, with a base price of 2 crore, failed to generate any interest across all the franchises. His poor recent results over the last two seasons are a big reason why the English power hitter has found no admirers in Jeddah. In his IPL career, he has played half a century of matches and amassed 1589 runs, averaging over 35. He has struck nine half-centuries and two centuries.

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Most Overpriced Players from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Steve Smith

Former Australia captain Steve Smith is considered in the same breath as Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root, together known as the 'Fab Four'. However, Smith's fortunes in the IPL have not been kind.

The great batter, who guided Rising Pune SuperGiants to the IPL final way back in 2017, has played for four teams: Pune Warriors India, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, and the Delhi Capitals. Not to forget he has pulled the Rising Pune Supergiant to their first-ever final, though they ended as runners-up. Smith went unsold in both the 2022 and 2024 auctions. In 103 matches, he has scored a total of 2485 runs, averaging at 35.  

Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla was drafted by Kings XI Punjab in 2016 to replace the injured Shaun Marsh. Amla established a strong case for himself as a credible opening batsman. The speedy player scored 577 runs in 16 matches, including two centuries and three half-centuries, for an average of 44.38.

The South African icon was genuinely excellent for Kings XI Punjab at the top of the order, but he went unsold in the IPL 2018 and 2019 auctions. Despite being statistically extremely good in limited-overs cricket, none of the IPL clubs selected him, leading him to announce his retirement immediately from international cricket.