The Indian Premier League 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, delivered several surprises, with one of the most shocking being Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur going unsold. The all-rounder, who was part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2024 edition, entered the auction with a base price of INR 2 crore but failed to attract any bidders.

3 reasons why Shardul Thakur went unsold

1. Inconsistent IPL performances in recent years

Thakur’s decline in IPL form has been evident over the past few seasons. In the IPL 2024 edition, the all-rounder’s contributions fell well below expectations. Representing CSK, he managed to play only nine matches, where his bowling, once his forte, proved underwhelming. He claimed just five wickets at an average of 61.80 – significantly higher than the league standard.

As a batter, his performance was equally underwhelming. In the three innings he batted, Thakur scored only 21 runs, failing to establish himself as a reliable lower-order contributor. This consistent lack of impactful performances likely eroded the confidence of potential franchise buyers, leading to his omission from the IPL 2025 season.

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2. Declining international appearances

A dwindling presence in international cricket further impacted Thakur’s IPL prospects. His last international appearance was a Test match against South Africa in December 2023, and his last ODI outing occurred in October 2023 against Bangladesh. Most notably, Thakur has been absent from India’s T20I squad since February 2022.

Given the highly specialized demands of the IPL, particularly in the fast-paced format, franchises tend to prioritize players who are regular contributors to T20Is. Shardul’s prolonged absence from this arena signaled to teams that he may no longer possess the sharpness or skills required to excel in the league.

3. Injury woes and fitness concerns

Injuries have also played a significant role in Shardul’s recent struggles. A foot injury sustained in June 2024 sidelined him for a considerable period, causing him to miss crucial matches and affecting his overall fitness. Although he returned to competitive cricket in October 2024, featuring in the Irani Cup for Mumbai against the Rest of India, his performance failed to inspire confidence.

In the match, Thakur scored a total of 38 runs across two innings, while his bowling – the primary aspect of his game – was ineffective, as he failed to claim a single wicket. For IPL franchises, these fitness concerns and lackluster comeback performances likely raised red flags about his ability to handle the rigors of the tournament.

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