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IPL 2025 Auction: David Warner To Open, Shaw As Impact Player; Strongest XI Of Unsold Players

David Warner and Prithvi Shaw opening for DC [Source: @sportz_point/x.com]David Warner and Prithvi Shaw opening for DC [Source: @sportz_point/x.com]

The saga of the IPL auction has come to an end after a couple of days of intense action. All the 10 IPL franchises gave their best to buy their target players. Each team put in a special effort to fill all their strategised spots and build their strongest side for the upcoming edition of the tournament. 

As the IPL franchises did their best to buy their target players, some of them built fortunes and got great deals. However, some players did not get the best deals, while some big names went unsold in the two days. This article will look at the strongest XI of the unsold players. 

Openers Of Unsold XI

David Warner

IPL Records - Matches: 184 Runs: 6,565 Avg: 40.52 SR: 139.77

David Warner has been one of the most successful batters in the history of the IPL. The Australian legend has great numbers in the tournament and has showed brilliant consistency over the years. The southpaw won the Orange Cap three times, the most by any player in the history of the league. The fact that he had his worst IPL season the last time and his age might have induced the franchises to not bid for him.

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow playing for PBKS [Source: @dhillow_/x.com]Jonny Bairstow playing for PBKS [Source: @dhillow_/x.com]

IPL Records - Matches: 50 Runs: 1,589 Avg: 34.54 SR: 144.45

One of the biggest surprises of the IPL 2025 auction was Jonny Bairstow going unsold. This English batter is known for his explosive batting at the top of the order. Besides, Bairstow has often fired in crucial games and has taken his team home. However, recently he has been going through lean phase and hence the franchises might have decided to stay away from him.

Middle Order Of Unsold XI

Kyle Mayers

IPL Records - Matches: 13 Runs: 379 Avg: 29.15 SR: 144.11

This West Indian all-rounder brings about an explosive influence at the top of the order in a batting line-up. Besides, Kyle Mayers can also bowl a couple of overs with the new ball at the beginning of an innings and add dynamism to the bowling attack of the team he is playing for. However, the franchises might have not bid for him because of the below par impact he left with his performances during his time in the tournament.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith recently won the MLC with the Washington Freedom [Source: @AdvocateMessi/x.com]Steve Smith recently won the MLC with the Washington Freedom [Source: @AdvocateMessi/x.com]

IPL Records - Matches: 103 Runs: 2,485 Avg: 34.51 SR: 128.09

Even though Steve Smith is not considered as one of the best players of the T20s, his presence in the batting line-up adds great depth and dynamism. Smith has the knack for rotating strike at will and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Besides, recently the Aussie great has worked and improved on his power game, too. Not bidding for him might have been a miss for the franchises as he could have contributed to the leadership core of the team he would have been a part of.

Sikandar Raza

IPL Records - Matches: 9 Runs: 182 Avg: 26.00 SR: 133.82 Wickets: 3 Economy Rate: 10.07

The Zimababwean all-rounder and superstar, Sikandar Raza's going unsold was a big surprise of he event. Sikanadar Raza as an overall utility player has proven himself time an again. Though his numbers are not great in the IPL, he has time and over shown that he can be a match winner with both the bat or the all in the international arena.

Dewald Brevis

IPL Records - Matches: 10 Runs: 230 Avg: 23.00 SR: 133.72

The South African middle-order batter has not yet stood up to the promise that he has shown in the earlier stages of his career. Brevis could be a great inclusion into this team as he can float up and down the batting order and help the team reach a good total.

Bowlers Of Unsold XI

Akeal Hosein

IPL Records - Matches: 1 Wickets: 0 Bowling Avg: -- Economy Rate: 10.00

The West Indian bowler failed to impress in the only opportunity he got in the IPL. However, in the international arena and in other leagues around the world, Akeal Hosein has proven himself as a tough customer in the T20 format. Hosein can be a very effective bowler in all the stages of an innings and he can also contribute with the bat lower down the order. However, his arrival late in the auction and him filling up an overseas spot might have been the reasons behind him going unsold.

Adil Rashid

IPL Records - Matches: 3 Wickets: 2 Bowling Avg: 45.50 Economy Rate: 9.10

The English wrist spinner is currently ranked the number 1 bowler in T20Is. However, in the little opportunity Adil Rashid has got in the IPL, he has failed to impress. Besides, looking at the effectivity and efficiency of Indian spinners, the franchises might have decided to ignore Adil Rashid.

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav during his team for KKR [Source: @Kettavan_Freak/x.com]Umesh Yadav during his team for KKR [Source: @Kettavan_Freak/x.com]

IPL Records - Matches: 148 Wickets: 144 Bowling Avg: 29.83 Economy Rate: 8.45

This Indian pacer has been a veteran in the IPL. Umesh Yadav has been active in the league since 2010 and has given some memorable performances. However, off late, the Indian pacer has become a unidmensional bowler. Not much applicability of the bowler is generally left after the first seven or eight overs. This could have been a prime reason that Umesh Yadav was ignored during the auction.

Mustafizur Rahman

IPL Records - Matches: 57 Wickets: 61 Bowling Avg: 28.89 Economy Rate: 8.14

The Bangladeshi left-arm seamer did a great job for the CSK in the last edition of the IPL. In the time that he played for the franchise, Mustafizur Rahman became an integral part of the CSK. In fact, his leaving the team for international duties was one of the reasons that CSK failed to qualify for the play-offs in the tournament. With this death over exploits, Fizz could have been a valuable addition to any team. However, Rahman's going unsold might be given down to his inconsistency in bowling performances.

Impact Players Of Unsold XI

Batting First - Piyush Chawla

IPL Records - Matches: 192 Wickets: 192 Bowling Avg: 26.60 Economy Rate: 7.96

The veteran Indian wrist spinner is one of the highest wicket-takers in the history of the league. Piyush Chawla has always proved his worth as a middle-over bowler. He was a part of the Mumbai Indians in the last three seasons and came up with atleast a wicket in most of the games that he played. However, his fitness and the fact that he is aging might have contributed to him goiung unsold in the auction.

Bowling First - Prithvi Shaw

IPL Records - Matches: 79 Runs: 1,892 Avg: 23.95 SR: 147.47

From being pitched as one of the future superstars of Indian cricket to going unsold in an IPL auction, the fall of Prithvi Shaw is disheartening to see. Shaw could be an aggressive presence in the top order of a batting line-up and take the game away from the opposition on his day. However, he has suffered from fitness and disciplinary issues and also inconsistency. As a result the teams might have decided to ignore him during the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Strongest Playing 12 Of Unsold Players In IPL 2025 Auction

David Warner (c)
Jonny Bairstow (wk)
Kyle Mayers
Steve Smith
Sikandar Raza
Dewald Brevis
Akeal Hosein
Adil Rashid
Umesh Yadav
Mustafizur Rahman
Prithvi Shaw/Piyush Chawla