IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Unsold XI and impact player

The IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah concluded with a whirlwind of intense bidding, tactical brilliance, and some unexpected moves by the franchises. While many players bagged hefty contracts, a few notable names were left unsold, raising eyebrows. Some of these unsold players have been IPL regulars, while others have struggled to find consistent form. Here's a look at the playing XI composed of the top unsold players from the auction, along with the impact player:

1. David Warner (C)

The 2016 IPL-winning captain, Warner, was a surprise omission in the auction. Despite a stellar IPL career, where he scored over 6500 runs, Warner's retirement earlier this year and a high base price of Rs 2 crore saw no bids. Warner, known for his leadership and batting prowess, could have easily led this side.

2. Prithvi Shaw

Once considered one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket, Shaw's fall from grace continued with his unsold status at the auction. Despite a base price of just Rs 75 lakh, no franchise picked up the explosive opener, whose IPL stats still remain impressive—1892 runs at a strike rate of 147.47.

3. Mayank Agarwal

A solid top-order batter, Mayank went unsold despite setting his base price at Rs 1 crore. After a quiet stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad, he struggled to find form, and franchises opted to look for fresh options instead.

4. Jonny Bairstow (Wk)

The English wicketkeeper-batter, known for his aggressive opening, failed to attract bids, despite a proven record in the IPL. Bairstow's strike rate of 144.45 in 50 IPL matches for SRH and PBKS shows his potential, but he couldn't make it this time.

5. Sarfaraz Khan

Despite a breakthrough season in red-ball cricket, Sarfaraz couldn't find a buyer. He had been with the Delhi Capitals last season but failed to make a mark. His base price was Rs 50 lakh, yet no team showed interest.

6. Sikander Raza

Zimbabwe's versatile all-rounder, who has impressed globally with his T20 performances, went unsold. Raza's ability to anchor innings, bowl off-spin, and deliver key overs made him a valuable player in any lineup, but franchises overlooked him this time.

7. Shardul Thakur

The pace-bowling all-rounder, who has been a valuable asset in the past, went unsold after setting his base price at Rs 2 crore. Thakur's diminishing performances in recent IPL seasons may have been a factor in his lack of bids.

8. Piyush Chawla

One of the most successful spinners in IPL history, Piyush Chawla failed to attract interest despite his 192 wickets in 192 matches. The 35-year-old had set his base price at Rs 50 lakh, but no franchise picked him up.

9. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav, who has been a part of the IPL since 2010, also went unsold. Despite a solid domestic season, Umesh's economy rate of 8.45 in 148 IPL matches didn’t seem enough to convince franchises.

10. Navdeep Saini

The pace sensation from India, known for his raw speed, failed to make it in the IPL auction. With injuries hampering his career, and no bids for his base price of Rs 75 lakh, his IPL future looks uncertain.

11. Mustafizur Rahman

The Bangladeshi pacer, known for his yorkers and death-over expertise, went unsold after his recent IPL outings didn't impress. Despite a strong record in limited-overs cricket, Mustafizur couldn't secure a spot.

Impact Player: Mayank Dagar

Mayank Dagar, who has been a solid domestic performer, makes the cut as the impact player.

Unsold Playing XI:

David Warner (C)

Prithvi Shaw

Mayank Agarwal

Jonny Bairstow (Wk)

Sarfaraz Khan

Sikander Raza

Shardul Thakur

Piyush Chawla

Umesh Yadav

Navdeep Saini

Mustafizur Rahman

This team represents a surprising mix of established IPL stars and capable performers, who unfortunately did not attract any bids in the 2025 auction.