The IPL Auction 2025, now in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has surprised fans on its first day. This is only the second time in the tournament’s history that the auction has been held outside India. Last year’s event took place in Dubai.
Day 1 of the mega auction saw fierce bidding for top Indian players. But, not all cricketers found buyers. On the opening day, 84 players went under the hammer. 72 sold, but 12 remained unsold.
The list of unsold players includes some big names. They are Australia’s David Warner, India’s Devdutt Padikkal, and England’s Jonny Bairstow. This has shocked cricket fans worldwide.
IPL Auction 2025: Day 1 Recap
The IPL Auction 2025’s first day saw franchises splurging on star Indian cricketers. They made headlines with record-breaking deals. The auction surprised, too. Several experienced players got no bids.
Key Unsold Players:
- Devdutt Padikkal: The Indian batter, with a base price of ₹2 crore, was one of the most notable names to remain unsold.
- David Warner: The Australian veteran, with a base price of ₹2 crore, failed to find a team. This was a surprise for the IPL mainstay.
- Jonny Bairstow: England’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter. He is worth ₹2 crore. He went unsold on Day 1.
- Waqar Salamkheil: Afghanistan’s spinner, with a ₹75 lakh base price, was a capped player without a team.
Full List of Unsold Players on Day 1
Here is the full list of unsold players from Day 1 of the IPL Auction 2025, with their base prices:
Player NameBase Price
- Devdutt Padikkal – ₹2 crore
- David Warner – ₹2 crore
- Jonny Bairstow – ₹2 crore
- Waqar Salamkheil – ₹75 lakh
- Piyush Chawla – ₹50 lakh
- Kartik Tyagi – ₹40 lakh
- Yash Dhull – ₹30lakh
- Anmolpreet Singh – ₹30 lakh
- Utkarsh Singh – ₹30 lakh
- Luvnith Sisodia – ₹30 lakh
- Upendra Singh Yadav – ₹30 lakh
- Shreyas Gopal – ₹30 lakh
Analysis: Why Big Names Like Warner and Padikkal Went Unsold
In the 2025 IPL Auction, teams favored young, in-form players over inconsistent veterans.
David Warner:
A stalwart of the IPL, Warner’s inability to secure a team raises eyebrows. Despite his success as an overseas batter, his T20 form and age may have led franchises to look elsewhere.
Devdutt Padikkal:
Once a rising star in Indian cricket, Padikkal now struggles with consistency. It seems to have hurt his prospects. Despite his talent, teams may have chosen cheaper, emerging Indian players.
Jonny Bairstow:
Bairstow’s injuries and poor short-format games seem to have deterred franchises, even at a ₹2 crore base price.
