Unsold IPL 2025 Players Shining in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

The IPL 2025 mega auction ended. Franchises spent ₹639 crores on 184 players. Over 300 cricketers went unsold. These players will miss the upcoming IPL season. But, some have impressed with great performances in the ongoing SMAT. This top domestic T20 tournament has given unsold players a chance to prove their worth. A few have seized the moment.

Here’s a look at three unsold IPL players who are excelling in SMAT 2025.

1.Urvil Patel: Record-Breaking Century

Urvil Patel of Gujarat hit the fastest T20 century by an Indian in SMAT history. This made headlines. His 28-ball century against Tripura in Indore broke Rishabh Pant’s record. It sent a clear message to IPL franchises that overlooked him.

Despite this historic feat, Patel’s overall season has been inconsistent. Apart from the century, he has managed only 28 runs across two other matches in the tournament. Nevertheless, his explosive performance highlights his potential as a top-order T20 batter.

2.Mayank Agarwal: The Experienced Leader

The biggest surprise of the IPL 2025 auction was Mayank Agarwal going unsold. A few years ago, he captained an IPL franchise. He was expected to attract big bids this time. However, the experienced batter failed to find a team.

Agarwal is performing steadily in SMAT 2025. He scored a half-century against Tripura. He made 48 runs in the opening match against Uttarakhand. These strong performances show he is a seasoned player. He can anchor an innings.

3.Arpit Guleria: Five-Wicket Haul Post-Auction

Himachal Pradesh pacer Arpit Guleria made a statement a day after the IPL auction. He took five wickets in the SMAT match. His 5/19 in his only match of the tournament showed his ability to trouble batters. He did it with his disciplined bowling.

Interestingly, Guleria was in the Lucknow Super Giants squad in IPL 2023. But, he went unsold in the 2025 auction. His recent performance may spark interest in future IPL opportunities.

The IPL 2025 mega auction overlooked these players. But, their strong showings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy are turning heads. Urvil Patel’s record knock, Mayank Agarwal’s solid batting, and Arpit Guleria’s deadly bowling show the talent in Indian cricket.

IPL franchises may be reminded to watch domestic tournaments, like SMAT, for future talent.