The IPL (Indian Premier League) has always been known for its entertainment and participation of foreign and local superstars.  Cricketers from all around the globe come together to play for their respective franchises. However, with each mega auction, some big names are surprisingly left unsold, leaving disappointment among their fans. 

In the mega auction of IPL 2025, some well-known players are surprisingly left out. In this article, we will make a complete and proper playing XI containing only those players who remained unsold during the auction. 

The IPL Unsold XI of 2025

Here is the playing XI of major players who were left unsold in the 2025 IPL Mega Auction.

1. David Warner

David Warner has been one of the most popular and successful foreign players in the IPL history. The Australian opener has been a stalwart in IPL for many years and despite such a reputation and consistent performance, he was not able to catch any buyer in the auction. It was a huge surprise that none of the franchises showed interest in buying him. The reason behind such a decision might be due to his recent decline in form, injuries, and retirement from International cricket. 

Warner had a superb record in the IPL, he was the highest overseas run-getter if the tournament with over 6000 runs under his belt. The left-handed batter was also the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad and led them to win the trophy in the  2016 season. 

2. Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw has shown immense promise in international cricket but in the last couple of years, things have been very difficult for him. He has always played well in the IPL but his recent form has forced the franchises to avoid picking him. The major reason is the inconsistency with the bat and that’s why he also struggled to make his name in the playing XI of Delhi Capitals in the previous season. 

3. Kane Williamson

The New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was also surprisingly left unsold in the auction. He was among the most respected players in the league but the tram owners were not interested in picking him. Williamson has excellent leadership qualities and his batting skills need no introduction but the major reason behind his rejection will be injuries.

He has been struggling with many injuries and in the last couple of seasons, the Kiwi star missed most of the IPL matches due to the injury. 

4. Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow is another Sunrisers Hyderabad player who remained unsold in the auction. Bairstow is known for his aggressive approach at the top of the order and we have seen that a lot during his time with SRH. Despite a successful IPL career, the Englishman failed to get a bid in the mega auction. The recent dip in form, especially in T20 cricket, and the presence of other hard-hitters in the pool might have led to his unsold status.

5. Daryl Mitchell

Daryl Mitchell has excellent all-around abilities, making him a valuable player for New Zealand in recent years. He has been a regular member of three sides of New Zealand. However, his inconsistent performance for CSK in IPL 2024 resulted in the franchises’ lack of interest in buying him. He has been phenomenal in International cricket and his presence in any team would have been vital but luck was not on his side in the mega auction. 

6. Sikandar Raza

Sikandar Raza is one of the best all-rounders in international cricket. He has solely carried the Zimbabwean team in the last few years. The right-handed batter showcased his potential in IPL 2024 with his impactful performances.

His off-spin bowling is quite handy and his ability to finish games with his power hitting makes him a valuable player for any side. But unfortunately, he also remained unsold in the mega auction. His experience and skills could have been beneficial but the teams had other plans. 

7. KS Bharat

KS Bharat is a talented and promising wicketkeeper-batsman from India. He has been performing well in both domestic and international cricket. However, his form and performance in IPL are below average, and the availability of other in-form wicketkeepers in the pool resulted in his unsold status in the mega auction. He was a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the previous season but failed to find a permanent place in the lineup. 

8. Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur who is known on social media as “Lord Shardul” was also surprisingly not picked by any side in the mega auction. He is famous for his ability to pick crucial wickets and break partnerships and his batting skills are also quite brilliant. Despite his good international record, the talented all-rounder remained unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Thakur was a part of Chennai Super Kings and delivered some good performances for them in the past. His inconsistency in recent times might have played a role in his unsold status. 

9. Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini gained a lot of popularity two years ago due to his death bowling. He is known for his yorkers and that’s why he was selected in the National side. Saini has a raw pace but recently has been struggling with his lines and lengths. He represented Royal Challngers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals in the past. His declining form is probably the biggest reason behind the lack of interest among the IPL teams. Teams may have chosen to invest in other fast bowlers with a more consistent record.

10. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav is a veteran Indian pacer but he also failed to attract bids in the 2025 IPL mega auction. He contributed a lot to the Indian Test side and was once a key player of Kolkata Knight Riders.

Umesh Yadav represented multiple franchises in the Indian Premier League over these years. His exclusion means the team owners are interested in investing in young pacers to build up a bowling unit for the upcoming years as well. 

11. Mujeeb Ur Rahman

The Afghan mystery spinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been a reliable bowler in the shortest format of the game. He has always been economical with the new ball in T20s and plays leagues all across the globe. His performance in IPL was also excellent but despite his skills, Mujeeb went unsold in the 2025 auction. He was a part of Punjab Kings in the past but due to team combination didn’t play many matches. He could have been a valuable addition to any side because of his ability to bowl with both the new and old ball. 

Conclusion: Why Do Big Names Get Overlooked in IPL Auctions?

The IPL auction is a complex process, where the franchises consider different factors to make the best possible squad for the season. These factors can be the age, form, injury, or need of a player. The absence of some big names was surprising but the teams did their best to pick a suitable squad with the right team combination. 

The 2025 IPL unsold XI is a big reminder that even the biggest names in cricket can be overlooked.