Players who stayed unnoticed in IPL auction, but later made a name on debut in the same season:

Delhi: These days, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a big discussion of Shardul Thakur playing for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2025. It is not difficult to guess the reason, because they have taken 9 wickets in 17 overs in 5 matches in the wickets of the match played this season, till April 10 and are very responsible for the number 5 position in LSG’s points table. Till a few days ago, those wickets were at the top of the chart. The most special thing associated with this discussion is that these are the same Shardul Thakur, who remained unsold in the auction of IPL 2025 after playing 8 consecutive seasons in the IPL.

Shardul’s record before auction

It is not that the record was bad in the days before the auction: 29 wickets in 6 matches in the Ranji Trophy season, one 100 and three with three 50 were also named. But it seems that the franchise took the record of IPL 2024 more (5 wickets in 9 matches and the economy rate around 10) and hence they remained in Anasold. Luck was good that in the English cricket season, there was a contract for County Cricket for Essex, which could make him a contender for a place in the Red Ball match team in India’s England Tour. But, then in LSG, a call came as a replacement of the injured Mohsin Khan and everything changed.

Shardul took 6 wickets in the first 2 matches of his team’s season. Playeroff the match in the winning match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), after that he may take a wicket against Mumbai Indians (Mi), but played a special role in a thrilling 12 runs in the match for his team for just 7 runs in the 19th over. That is why he became a special example in the story of successful replacement from the ipl’s unsold.

From unsold to success- some examples

Chris Gayle

There are other special stories in the IPL. Playing any replacement during the IPL season is not a unique thing, but not every replacement is successful. Whenever there is such a mention, the first name in the discussion was unusual in 2011, West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle is taken. He joined the IPL in 2008 itself and earned a lot of name with his strong hitting till 2010 season. Even then no one gave the base price of Unsold and their $ 4 million for the 2011 season. Later, the poor fitness of Durk Nans received a call from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Gayle made many new records. His record of that 2011 season: 608 runs in 12 matches, two 100, three 50, 56 fours and 44 sixes.

Phil Salt

For Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024, Phil Salat’s performance (with 435 runs in 12 matches with four 50) and loud opening with Sunil Naren. No one remembers in the discussion that he was uncertain in the auction and played only with the withdrawal of Jason Roy. Out of his 435 runs, 296 runs were scored at a strike rate of 185 in the powerplay, number 2 in the chart of the run scorer for KKR and the most important thing was that he was also named in the story of KKR becoming champion.

Jake Fraser-Mackgrack

Another such example of the previous season is for Jake Fraser-Macgark Delhi Capitals (DC). Nearly two weeks after the start of the season, there was a place due to the injury of the injured Lungi Ngidi in Delhi Capitals. But, surprisingly, the management did not take a bowler in his place, the batsman Jake was called and what was amazing the master stroke: 330 runs from 234+ strike rate in 9 matches and at number three for the team in the run chart.

Sandeep Sharma

The story of IPL 2023 for Sandeep Sharma’s Rajasthan Royals is also surprising everyone with its performance with the same unsold. The IPL veteran Pesar Sandeep Sharma was unsold in the auction, but a call to replace the famous Krishna injured from RR. Despite the presence of Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni at the crease, did not allow 5 runs on the last ball, 13 wickets from 8.18 economy in 11 matches and RR for IPL 2025 also retained.

Silver

In recent years of IPL, Rajat Patidar is named as one of the special players of Royal Challengers Bangalore. When did this series start? The fun story is that after just 71 runs in 4 matches in IPL 2021, RCB released him. Such a failure label seemed to be unusual in the next auction. Incidentally, in RCB itself, Lavanith Sisodia’s injury made a place and a call got a call to Rajat. Rajat did not let the occasion go by hand, scored 333 runs in 8 matches in that season, 112* in eliminator. Since then, he was labeled with RCB and is also a captain in this season.

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