IPL 2024: 5 Unsold players who can come to teams as injury backup

The auction for the Indian Premier League 2024 happened to be one of the most memorable auctions in the history of the tournament as it saw the amounts over INR 20 crores for one player. Apart from that, a lot of youngsters earned surprising bids as it will be their first-ever appearance in the Indian Premier League.

Besides this, some of the veteran players couldn’t make it successfully to the squad of any of the teams. While some of the cricketers weren’t retained by their previous franchises. But a few of them might be called again to IPL in case of injury concerns.

With said that, here we’ll have a look at the 5 players who went unsold during the IPL 2024 mini auction but they could make it to the squad of any of the teams as the injury replacements.

Phil Salt

England batter Phil Salt made his first appearance in Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals in 2023. However, he couldn’t impress with his batting performances in the tournament. He scored only 218 runs in 9 matches with a below-par average of 27.25. Salt’s dismal run of form couldn’t convince Delhi Capitals to retain him for the next consecutive season of the Indian Premier League. However, his records for England in international cricket might be one of the reasons that teams might rope in as an injury replacement in IPL 2024.

Steve Smith

Former Australia skipper and modern-day batting great, Steve Smith has been in action in the Indian Premier League. He started his journey for Rajasthan Royals 10 years back in the year 2014 and stayed there till 2020. Later, he struggled with the batting form in the 2019 and 2020 seasons which made RR part ways with the Australian batter. Subsequently, Delhi Capitals picked him in IPL 2021. Furthermore, he wasn’t sold in IPL 2022 auction followed by an absence from IPL 2023 and going unsold in IPL 2024 auction as well.

However, his current run of form with the bat in international cricket might earn him a call from any IPL franchise in case they encounter an injury concern.

Josh Hazlewood

The veteran Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood was released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the IPL 2024 mini-auction. Later, he also went unsold during the auction. He had a base price of INR 2 crores but none of the participating franchises showed an interest in buying him. But still, the Aussie pacer will be in the hopes of being a part of IPL in the second half of the tournament owing to his recent performances at the highest level of the game for Australia.

Adil Rashid

Last year in the Indian Premier League 2023, the star England spinner Adil Rashid played for the IPL 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, he could play only two matches and picked two wickets. Later, the franchise released him before the IPL 2024 mini-auction; in the same line of events, having a base price of INR 2 crores, Rashid couldn’t find a buyer in the IPL 2024 mini-auction.

But the teams will not be writing off Adil Rashid completely for the later part of the tournament owing to his international experience in the shortest format of the game.

Josh Inglis

Josh Inglis made it to the headlines after he smashed his maiden T20I century against India in Vishakhapatnam last year. Later, his name was also there in the list of IPL 2024 mini-auctions with a base price of INR 2 crores. However, the rising Australian star couldn’t find a buyer; the reason was his poor run of form after the maiden T20I century.

Apart from that, his hitting abilities might make the teams look ahead on picking him as a replacement if any of their players get injured.