We take a look at some international stars who failed to attract interest from cash-strapped IPL franchises on auction day
Seven unlucky players to miss IPL windfall
Ben Stokes was the story of Monday’s Indian Premier League auction after being sold for a whopping AUD $2.8m but spare a thought for some of the players who didn’t attact a single bid.
IPL Auction:Aussies and the big-money deals
Stokes’ price-tag was the highest ever forked out for an overseas player in the tournament’s history, while six Australians found new IPL homes during the auction.
But a total of 24 Australians didn’t get picked up, joining a host of players from around the globe who failed to invite any interest.
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Below, we take a look at some of the unluckiest players to miss out on an IPL payday.
Imran Tahir (SA)
Base price: $97,000
He’s the world’s No.1 ranked one-day international and Twenty20 International bowler according to the International Cricket Council, but there was no room for Imran Tahir on an IPL roster. The leg-spinner has played in the last three editions of the tournament for the Delhi Daredevils but surprisingly found no suitors.
Ishant Sharma (IND)
Base price: $390,000
Local quicks with significant international experience are hard to come by but despite this, Ishant Sharma failed to attract any bids. Having played in each edition of the tournament bar one (in 2012), the towering paceman’s hopes of a berth may have been hindered by his decision to set his base price at the highest available mark.
Ben Dunk (AUS)
Base price: $58,000
The same can’t be said of Ben Dunk, the leading run-scorer in the recent KFC Big Bash League, who set his base price at an affordable figure just under $60k. But the left-hander, who was the Adelaide Strikers’ wicketkeeper for the majority of BBL|06 and can also send down some handy off-spin, didn’t invite any interest despite a three-match stint for the Mumbai Indians in 2014.
Alex Hales (ENG)
Base price: $195,000
The only Englishman to score a century in a T20 International, Alex Hales was passed over in Monday’s auction. One of the most destructive openers in the world on his day, the ICC’s ninth-ranked T20I batsman’s chances of an IPL call-up may have been affected by his recovery from a broken hand.
Irfan Pathan (IND)
Base price: $97,000
Another former India Test seamer without a home for this year’s IPL, Irfan Pathan was an in-demand local player in early editions of the IPL. But the left-armer missed all of last year’s campaign and suggestions of a drop in pace may have contributed to his snub.
Sean Abbott
Base price: $58,000
The leading wicket-taker in BBL|06, Sean Abbott was a strong favourite to resume his spot in Australia's T20 team to face Sri Lanka but missed selection and has now also been overlooked in the IPL auction. The right-arm paceman averaged two wickets a game as he helped the Sixers into the BBL final, but his tournament economy-rate of 8.72 may have counted against him.
Colin de Grandhomme
Base price: $58,000
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 20, 2017
The big-hitting allrounder has limited experience in international cricket – just 17 matches across all formats – but his strike-rate of 171.04 is the highest in T20 history (minimum of 250 balls faced). IPL sides may have overlooked de Grandhomme’s feats however considering the majority of his T20 cricket has been played in New Zealand’s domestic competition.