IPL 2018: Unsold playing XI from the auction

4. Joe Root

England Test skipper and probably the most dynamic limited overs batsman didn’t find any takers in the IPL auction. He had put forth his name for the first time in the Indian T20 extravaganza and was looking forward to playing the league. When he went unsold on the first day, one would’ve thought he would come back in the auction later on the second day but he wasn’t even called back by any of the teams. He would’ve felt hard done and would want to prove his critics wrong when he next plays in the shortest format.

His batting in the middle brings the much-needed calmness to the team and has an ability to carry the team through the team under tough circumstances. His T20 International strike rate of 128.70 and average close to 40 is the testimony to his consistency with the willow.