5 overseas players who might go unsold at IPL 2025 auction ft. Kane Williamson
With the players' list out for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction, all eyes will now be on the two days when teams will bid to acquire the services of some of the world's biggest players.
As many as 208 overseas players will go under the hammer during the mega-auction, with 193 capped players, 12 uncapped players, and three players from associate nations.
Unfortunately, several big overseas names such as Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Cameron Green and others will not be a part of this mega-auction. However, there are some big names present such as Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Jos Buttler, and Kagiso Rabada.
Despite these being big names, there is a fair possibility that some of these overseas players may fail to attract any bidders at the auction. As the excitement and anticipation continue to build, here is a look at five such overseas players who might go unsold at the IPL 2025 mega-auction.
5 overseas players who might go unsold at IPL 2025 auction
#5 James Anderson
In a surprising move, English pacer James Anderson registered for the IPL 2025 mega-auction, creating a buzz. The veteran pacer has been a topic of immense discussion.
Anderson last played T20 international cricket way back in 2009 and has never been a part of the IPL as well. He has played very limited T20 cricket and is not renowned for his skill or performances in the format.
With a base price of ₹2 crore, it is possible that despite all the hype, Anderson could remain unsold at the auction.
#4 Adil Rashid
Another English player on this list, leg-spinner Adil Rashid has not been favored by many teams in the IPL in the past. Despite his performances at the international level and the demand for leg-spinners in the T20 format, Adil Rashid has never been a priority pick in the Indian league.
The spinner has featured in only one game in the league and remained unsold last season as well. With a base price of ₹2 crore, he is expected to not find any bidders this time around as well.
#3 Shakib Al Hasan
Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was once a key figure in the IPL, playing a crucial role for the Kolkata Knight Riders in both of their title-winning seasons in 2012 and 2014. He last featured in the league in 2021 and has not been a part of any team ever since.
The seasoned all-rounder pulled out of the 2024 auction as well, in order to prolong his international career after having dealt with several injury issues.
Although he returns to the auction list this time, with a base price of ₹1 crore, it is highly unlikely that sides will lift the paddle for him given his long absence from the league.
#2 Kane Williamson
Star New Zealand batter Kane Williamson has not featured much in the league over the last two years due to his constant battles with injuries. He was signed by the Gujarat Titans ahead of the 2023 season.
However, in two seasons (2023 and 2024), he played only three matches and scored just 27 runs. Williamson had his best season in 2018 where he scored 735 runs. Ever since, his performances have dipped with the bat and have not been impressive.
Given his inconsistency and injury concerns, Kane Williamson will find it very difficult to get picked by any franchise.
#1 Steve Smith
Steve Smith's last IPL appearance was for the Delhi Capitals during the 2021 season, where his performance with the bat was underwhelming. Across eight matches, he managed just 152 runs, averaging 25.33 with a strike rate of 112.59.
Since then, Smith has remained unsold in the IPL auctions, including the 2024 edition. Despite his recent absence, Smith's overall IPL record remains respectable.
Over 103 matches, he has accumulated 2,485 runs at an average of 34.51 and a strike rate of 128.09, with 11 half-centuries and one century to his name. However, the Australian is likely to go unsold this time as well.