Warner heads high-profile snubs at IPL 2025 Mega Auction

David Warner has missed out on a contract at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, with the Australian opener going unsold on day two of the event on Monday in Jeddah.

Warner holds the record for the most runs scored by an overseas batsman in the Indian T20 league, with 6,565 runs from his 184 appearances in the IPL.

However, the 36-year-old, who retired from international cricket six months ago, had no takers for his US$236,000 base price this time around.

The snub follows a dry season in the Indian Premier League this year, where Warner accrued just 168 runs.

Other notable overseas names to go unsold include New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, England’s Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson, and Aussie stars Steve Smith, Alex Carey and Josh Philippe.

Each will have later opportunities to join IPL franchises before the start of the season, which begins in March 2025.

The biggest talking point of the IPL Mega Auction on Monday was not a well-known name, but an Indian player by the name of Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

The 13-year-old became the youngest player to receive an IPL contract, having starred in India’s Under-19 side earlier this year against Australia.

Suryavanshi was bid on by both the Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, with the former claiming him for just over $129,000.

“He’s been to our high performance centre in Nagpur, he had trials there and really impressed our coaching set-up there,” Rajasthan CEO Jake Lush McCrum said of the purchase.

“He’s an incredible talent and of course you got to have the confidence so he can step up to the IPL level.

“So, lots of work will go in in the coming months to continue to develop him but hell of a talent and we’re really excited to have him as part of the franchise.”

Delhi sit on the seventh line of betting to win the IPL next year, returning +900 at most cricket betting sites to claim their maiden title.

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