While a few uncapped players grabbed limelight in the IPL 2022 auction, there were also some big names that surprisingly went unsold. Let’s look at the list of those.
Suresh Raina
The fourth-highest run-scorer in the history of IPL, Suresh Raina was one of the biggest names to go unsold in the auction. Although he failed to deliver in IPL 2021, scoring only 160 runs in 12 matches at an average of 17.77, the batsman has won CSK several matches over the years. The best the teams could have done was given him a few chances in IPL 2022 before deciding that there is no more fuel left in the tank. The 35-year-old has played 205 IPL matches and scored 5,528 runs at an average of 32.51.
Steve Smith
Considered among the best batsmen of this generation, Australia’s Steve Smith had no team bid for him in the auction. Smith’s performances for the Delhi Capitals last season were average - 152 runs in eight matches at an average of 25.33 and a strike rate of 112.59. But given the experience he brings to the table, the former Australian skipper could have been a good choice for some of the teams.
Aaron Finch
Australia’s white-ball captain went unsold in the auction for the second year in a row. Aaron Finch had performed well for RCB in 2020, scoring 268 runs in 12 games, but was released by the Virat Kohli-led side ahead of the 2021 season.
Adil Rashid
England’s leading wicket-taker among spinners in both the white-ball formats, Adil Rashid is another big name that found no takers in the auction. And this has been going on for years now. One of the best T20 bowlers in the world, Rashid has only ever played one game in the IPL, when he represented Punjab Kings against Rajasthan Royals in the 2021 season.
Shakib Al Hasan
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan failed to make most of the opportunities KKR gave him last season. But he is currently the second-best T20 all-rounder in the world as per the ICC rankings, and could have been a very good investment for any of the teams.
Chris Lynn
Chris Lynn, who was KKR’s match-winner on several occasions, and still continues to send the ball out of the park in tournaments like the BBL and PSL, found no takers in the auction. The explosive opener was picked up by Mumbai Indians last season but got to play just one match in which he impressed with 49 runs at a strike-rate of 140. Lynn boasts of an average and strike rate of 34.07 and 140.63 in his IPL career, and surely deserved to be picked at least at his base price of Rs 1.50 crore.
Imran Tahir
Imran Tahir, the winner of the purple cap in IPL 2019, continues to bamboozle the best of batsmen in T20 leagues around the world. Most recently, we saw him deliver some fine performances in the PSL too. But the 42-year-old created absolutely no noise in the auction. The veteran bowler played just four IPL games for CSK across the last two seasons, but has continued to prove his mettle in other T20 leagues around the world.
Dawid Malan
Dawid Malan, who was ICC’s best T20 batsman not long ago, didn’t attract attention from any of the 10 IPL teams. The England international played just one game for Punjab Kings last season in which he scored 26 runs. At Rs 1.50 crore, Malan could have been a fairly pocket-friendly investment for the teams.
