Just like the T20 format, the T20 League auctions are also filled with uncertainties. Some of the least expected players end up bagging a whopping amount, whereas some big names fail to even bag a contract. Over the years, many shocking snubs have taken place.
Here’s a list of 5 big names that surprisingly went unsold in T20 league auctions:
1. Temba Bavuma
South African limited overs skipper, Temba Bavuma went unsold in the recently concluded SA T20 league. This came as a surprise to many, as he is one of the best middle-order batters on the South African national team. Not only does he bat, but he is also an excellent fielding asset as well. Even Bavuma expressed his disappointment and said that he was hurt by the way things played out.
2. Carlos Brathwaite
West Indian explosive hitter, Carlos Brathwaite, went unsold in the SA T20 auctions. The memories of those 4 sixes in the T20 World Cup against Ben Stokes are still alive in people’s hearts. West Indies batters are known for their power-hitting abilities. Brathwaite’s snub has sent shockwaves among cricket fans.
3. Suresh Raina
Popularly known as Mr. IPL, Suresh Raina was released by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the mega IPL auction. Raina failed to attract any bidders in the auction. His chances of getting a bidder in the cap round were dashed when he was declared unsold in the final round.
Suresh Raina was the first-ever Indian batter to score a hundred across all three formats. He has brought immense glory to CSK in his decade-old stint. His snub broke many hearts for sure.
4. Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladeshi all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan went unsold in the mega IPL auction. Shakib has maintained his position as the number-one T20 all-rounder in the ICC rankings for a long time. He has produced many match-winning performances for Kolkata Knight Riders in the past. He is also the captain of his national side.
5. Steve Smith
Australian middle-order batter, Steve Smith went unsold in the IPL auction. He has led the Rajasthan Royals for several years in the past. However, following his Sandpaper Gate scandal, he was dropped from the captaincy position. A year later, the Rajasthan Royals shockingly released Smith before the mega auctions. Teams were building it up from scratch. His place was being confirmed by the critics in the pre-auction analysis and rightly so. But to everyone’s surprise, Smith failed to attract any bidders. Nobody showed interest, even at a base price.
There have been many surprise snubs in the past in various auctions. Here we manage to club a few names. All these names raised eyebrows among the cricket fraternity.
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