IPL 2025: 3 Overseas players who could go unsold in upcoming auction

Only 80 overseas players are allowed to feature in each Indian Premier League season. Since the competition is pretty high, many reputed cricketers end up not being picked from the auction. In the last few years, the likes of Steve Smith, Tim Southee, Adam Zampa and Tabraiz Shamsi have gone unsold and to add to that, even Phil Salt went unsold in the IPL 2024 mega-auction before KKR signed him as Jason Roy’s replacement.
The moral of the story is, that anyone can go unsold, as the reputation factor doesn’t work much. If it did, Sourav Ganguly wouldn’t have gone unsold in the 2011 mega-auction. The franchises have been extremely smart and invest in players looking at various aspects - age, form, calibre and attitude among various other things.&nbsp;
In the 2025 mega-auction, things won’t change, and some top cricketers may end up on the unsold list. Who can these be? Let’s dissect:
<h3>3. Liam Livingstone</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731769952798_Liam-Livingstone.jpeg" alt="Liam Livingstone" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-658839" data-gramm="false">Liam Livingstone. (Source:X/Twitter)</figcaption>
</figure>
One of the most dynamic T20 players in the world can surely not go unsold, right? Well, it’s an IPL auction. England international <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/liam-livingstone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Liam Livingstone</a> has a base price of INR 2 Crore and will be available in the second set of marquee players. By the time his name comes, set one will be clear, in which, Jos Buttler, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh and Mitchell Starc will go under the hammer.
Now, Livingstone coming in the Set 2 can prove to be bad for him. His qualities aren’t in question here, but the franchises may decide to save their purse for other top cricketers, particularly Indian players. On top of that, the all-rounder hasn’t made a massive impact in the IPL, having scored 111 runs in seven matches for Punjab Kings in the previous edition.
He might find a franchise in the accelerated round but there’s a massive chance that all the teams will be more-or-less complete by that time. He would have definitely found a team had he come later in the auction, but it might prove to be difficult for him early on.
<h3>2. Shakib Al Hasan</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731770000456_Shakib-Al-Hasan-123.jpeg" alt="Shakib Al Hasan" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-723906" data-gramm="false">Shakib Al Hasan. (Source:X/Twitter)</figcaption>
</figure>
Even a few years back, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/shakib-al-hasan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakib Al Hasan</a> was considered to be one of the greatest all-rounders, but his form has dropped significantly in recent times. He recently announced retirement from T20Is and the franchises may just think that his time in the format is done and on top of that, Shakib’s form is concerning as well.
He has played 12 T20I games in 2024, scoring only 169 runs at a strike rate of 106.28. With the ball, he picked up nine wickets. Hence, there’s no reason for the franchises to show interest in the Bangladesh all-rounder. The 37-year-old played important in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-winning campaigns in 2012 and 2014, but he is now a ghost of his past.
Meanwhile, Shakib didn’t take part in IPL 2024 due to injuries and politics. This year, he has registered for INR 1 Crore, but the franchises are highly unlikely to raise their paddles. Also, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has troubled several IPL franchises by not giving no-objection certificate (NOC) to the players, which might force the franchises to turn their back on their players.
<h3>1. Jonny Bairstow</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731770052423_Jonny-Bairstow.jpeg" alt="Jonny Bairstow" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-169251" data-gramm="false">Jonny Bairstow. (Source:X/Twitter)</figcaption>
</figure>
There’s a massive demand for an opener who can bat aggressively and keep wickets as well in the IPL 2025 mega-auction. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/jonny-bairstow/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonny Bairstow</a> fits the bill perfectly, but yet, the England international may end up in the unsold list. The 35-year-old played a major role in the revolution of white-ball cricket but Bairstow is now out of the England team and also, not in the scheme of things.
The cricketer represented Punjab Kings in IPL 2024, where he scored 298 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 152.82. Consistency has been a major issue with the player and for the same reason, England have moved past him and the IPL franchises can ignore as well.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/rishabh-pants-ipl-2025-auction-ai-predicts-team-and-final-bid-price/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI Predicts Rishabh Pant's IPL 2025 Team and Final Bid Price</a>
In 2024, he has played 10 T20Is and has scored only 159 runs. It’s heavily concerning and given that Bairstow has failed to establish his authority in the last few years in the IPL, franchises are likely to refrain from bidding. Notably, he will be available in the first wicketkeepers' set, with a base price of INR 2 Crore.

Only 80 overseas players are allowed to feature in each Indian Premier League season. Since the competition is pretty high, many reputed cricketers end up not being picked from the auction. In the last few years, the likes of Steve Smith, Tim Southee, Adam Zampa and Tabraiz Shamsi have gone unsold and to add to that, even Phil Salt went unsold in the IPL 2024 mega-auction before KKR signed him as Jason Roy’s replacement.
The moral of the story is, that anyone can go unsold, as the reputation factor doesn’t work much. If it did, Sourav Ganguly wouldn’t have gone unsold in the 2011 mega-auction. The franchises have been extremely smart and invest in players looking at various aspects - age, form, calibre and attitude among various other things.&nbsp;
In the 2025 mega-auction, things won’t change, and some top cricketers may end up on the unsold list. Who can these be? Let’s dissect:
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">3. Liam Livingstone</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731769952798_Liam-Livingstone.jpeg" alt="Liam Livingstone" loading="lazy"><lt-highlighter contenteditable="false" data-lt-linked="1" style="display: none;"><lt-div spellcheck="false" class="lt-highlighter__wrapper" style="width: 640px !important; height: 22.3843px !important; transform: none !important; transform-origin: 320px 11.1921px !important; zoom: 1 !important; margin-top: 410.081px !important;"><lt-div class="lt-highlighter__scroll-element" style="top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; width: 640px !important; height: 22px !important;"></lt-div></lt-div></lt-highlighter>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-658839" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Liam Livingstone. (Source:X/Twitter)</figcaption>
</figure>
One of the most dynamic T20 players in the world can surely not go unsold, right? Well, it’s an IPL auction. England international <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/liam-livingstone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Liam Livingstone</a> has a base price of INR 2 Crore and will be available in the second set of marquee players. By the time his name comes, set one will be clear, in which, Jos Buttler, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh and Mitchell Starc will go under the hammer.
Now, Livingstone coming in the Set 2 can prove to be bad for him. His qualities aren’t in question here, but the franchises may decide to save their purse for other top cricketers, particularly Indian players. On top of that, the all-rounder hasn’t made a massive impact in the IPL, having scored 111 runs in seven matches for Punjab Kings in the previous edition.
He might find a franchise in the accelerated round but there’s a massive chance that all the teams will be more-or-less complete by that time. He would have definitely found a team had he come later in the auction, but it might prove to be difficult for him early on.
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">2. Shakib Al Hasan</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731770000456_Shakib-Al-Hasan-123.jpeg" alt="Shakib Al Hasan" loading="lazy"><canvas class="lt-highlighter__canvas" width="51" height="20" style="display: none; top: 1px !important; left: 192px !important;"></canvas>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-723906" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Shakib Al Hasan. (Source:X/Twitter)</figcaption>
</figure>
Even a few years back, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/shakib-al-hasan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakib Al Hasan</a> was considered to be one of the greatest all-rounders, but his form has dropped significantly in recent times. He recently announced retirement from T20Is and the franchises may just think that his time in the format is done and on top of that, Shakib’s form is concerning as well.
He has played 12 T20I games in 2024, scoring only 169 runs at a strike rate of 106.28. With the ball, he picked up nine wickets. Hence, there’s no reason for the franchises to show interest in the Bangladesh all-rounder. The 37-year-old played important in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-winning campaigns in 2012 and 2014, but he is now a ghost of his past.
Meanwhile, Shakib didn’t take part in IPL 2024 due to injuries and politics. This year, he has registered for INR 1 Crore, but the franchises are highly unlikely to raise their paddles. Also, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has troubled several IPL franchises by not giving no-objection certificate (NOC) to the players, which might force the franchises to turn their back on their players.
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">1. Jonny Bairstow</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731770052423_Jonny-Bairstow.jpeg" alt="Jonny Bairstow" loading="lazy"><lt-highlighter contenteditable="false" data-lt-linked="1" style="display: none;"><lt-div spellcheck="false" class="lt-highlighter__wrapper" style="width: 640px !important; height: 22.3843px !important; transform: none !important; transform-origin: 320px 11.1921px !important; zoom: 1 !important; margin-top: 410.081px !important;"><lt-div class="lt-highlighter__scroll-element" style="top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; width: 640px !important; height: 22px !important;"></lt-div></lt-div></lt-highlighter>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-169251" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Jonny Bairstow. (Source:X/Twitter)</figcaption>
</figure>
There’s a massive demand for an opener who can bat aggressively and keep wickets as well in the IPL 2025 mega-auction. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/jonny-bairstow/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonny Bairstow</a> fits the bill perfectly, but yet, the England international may end up in the unsold list. The 35-year-old played a major role in the revolution of white-ball cricket but Bairstow is now out of the England team and also, not in the scheme of things.
The cricketer represented Punjab Kings in IPL 2024, where he scored 298 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 152.82. Consistency has been a major issue with the player and for the same reason, England have moved past him and the IPL franchises can ignore as well.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/rishabh-pants-ipl-2025-auction-ai-predicts-team-and-final-bid-price/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI Predicts Rishabh Pant's IPL 2025 Team and Final Bid Price</a>
In 2024, he has played 10 T20Is and has scored only 159 runs. It’s heavily concerning and given that Bairstow has failed to establish his authority in the last few years in the IPL, franchises are likely to refrain from bidding. Notably, he will be available in the first wicketkeepers' set, with a base price of INR 2 Crore.
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Only 80 overseas players are allowed to feature in each Indian Premier League season. Since the competition is pretty high, many reputed cricketers end up not being picked from the auction. In the las

3 Overseas players who could go unsold in upcoming auction

The IPL auction will take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah.

Check out the top three overseas players likely to go unsold in the IPL 2025 auction and find out why they might struggle to secure a bid only on CricTracker.