IPL mini-auction: Joe Root, Rilee Rossouw and Shakib Al Hasan go unsold

Rilee Rossouw in action [Source: Twitter]

The beauty about the IPL auction has always been the surprises it continues to come up with. The ongoing IPL 2023 mini-auction was no different, as in what came as an absolute shocker, famed international batters Shakib Al Hasan, Joe Root and Rilee Rossouw went unsold. 

Former England captain Joe Root became the first-ever player to go unsold in the auction. Well, it was expected, as Root hasn't been a regular feature in England's T20I team since a long time. However, as he had a base price of only 1 Crore, it was assumed that some franchises might be interested in him, considering his ability of playing spin incredibly well. But, unfortunately, he didn't attract any team. 

On the other hand, Rossouw going unsold was surprising, as he brings a lot of value to the table, being not only a left-hander but also an incredible player of raw pace and spin. 

In another notable event, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became the first player to go unsold in the all-rounder category. Despite being a gifted cricketer, Shakib's batting and bowling form has been in a decline for quite some time now. Also, his base price of 1.5 Crores might have disinterested the bidders, as it's a bit too high, considering his form and fitness. 

Also Read: IPL mini-auction: Harry Brook becomes the first player to cross the 10-Crore mark