There were a number of big and expensive signings during Thursday’s IPL auction but there were also a few players that missed out. Here are some of the big names that went unsold.
Alex Hales
Despite finishing the Big Bash League as the highest run-scorer, Hales, surprisingly, went unsold during Thursday’s auction. The Englishman has been in superb from of late as he tries to break back into the national fold.
Jason Roy
Roy missed out on last year’s IPL after picking up an injury in the lead up to the competition in the UAE. Despite playing for the Delhi Capitals and the Gujarat Lions in the past, the English batsmen finished without a franchise at the end of the auction.
Aaron Finch
The Australian captain was also surprisingly not bought again by the Bangalore Royal Challengers. Finch’s omission led to former Aussie captain Michael Clarke suggesting ‘something is wrong’ with the IPL clubs not to buy him.
Adil Rashid
Despite being one of the best spinners in the shortest format, Rashid also went unsold on Thursday. Breaking into a competition that is a filled with talented Indian spinners was, however, never going to be easy.
Rassie van der Dussen
The South African public in particular was left slightly stunned when the Proteas batsman didn’t get a team. Van der Dussen offers a good middle-order option but was overlooked by the teams at the auction.
George Linde
There was also a hint of optimism that the new Proteas star could receive an offer at the auction. But, like Rashid, it was always going to be difficult for a spinner to get snatched up.
Marnus Labuschagne
The South African-born received no bids on Thursday with many thinking he might get the nod. His brilliance in the middle has gone from strength to strength and it could be a big opportunity missed for some of the clubs.
