Round two of the Indian T20 League mega auction saw a few players who went unsold. There are many reasons such as form, availability, retirement, etc. The first player to go unsold was South Africa batter David Miller. The reason for him going unsold could be his dip in performances with the bat in the league over the years. In his initial years (2012-2015), he amassed 1319 runs in 16 games striking in the 130s to 160s.

From 2016, his strike rate and runs started to dry up. The left-hander could only manage 655 runs striking at a rate of 120. Last year, he was released by Rajasthan. The next player to go unsold was former India cricketer Suresh Raina. The left-hander had a terrible time with the bat last year as he managed only 160 runs in 12 games averaging 17.77. He was released by the franchise last year. This looks like the end of his ITL career as he is a retired cricketer and doesn’t play domestic cricket either.

The third player to go unsold was Australia Test vice-captain Steve Smith. He hasn’t had a good time with the bat in the shortest format in the last couple of years. Playing for Rajasthan in 2020, he amassed just over 300 runs with three fifties. Next year, playing for Delhi, he played only eight games and scored just over 150 runs. In the 20-20 World Cup last year, he could score only 69 runs striking at 97.18.

The last player to go unsold was Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. The reason he went unsold could be his unavailability in the 50 percent of the tournament due to his international commitments against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Twitter was surprised that the likes of Raina and Smith could not find a buyer.

 

Steve Smith goes unsold! 🇦🇺#IPLAuction #TATAIPLAuction #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/sDvceZxB7G

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 12, 2022

Steve Smith Watching teams fight for Jason Holder #IPLMegaAuction2022 pic.twitter.com/TULFCZ0bTB

— Sujith Matharasi (@Sujith_RedDevil) February 12, 2022

Suresh Raina, the Mr. IPL, unsold. Steve Smith unsold.
Maine nahi dekhna yaar auction😭😭😭#IPLAuction #IPLMegaAuction #IPLAuction2022 #IPL2022MegaAuction #IPL2022Auction

— Smriti Sinha (@smritisinha99) February 12, 2022

 

Suresh Raina, Steve Smith, and Shakib Al Hasan were among the high-profile names who went unsold in the #IPL2022Auction#IPLAuction #IPLMegaAuction2022https://t.co/0by47KJf4C

— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) February 12, 2022

 

Steve Smith is next – He also goes UNSOLD #TATAIPLAuction @TataCompanies

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) February 12, 2022

Suresh Raina's IPL Sagaaptham ends. Was an absolute legend of the IPL, but time has come to move on. Thank you, Raina.

— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) February 12, 2022

I am a bit surprised that @ChennaiIPL didn’t go for Raina today but they are likely to do so, come tomorrow. Why I am saying that because their belief in Bravo is intact. #IPLAuction  #IPL2022Auction #IPL2022 #iplauctionbid2022 #iplauctionbid2022

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) February 12, 2022

 

Sad not to see a single bid for Mr IPL @ImRaina in the first round.. @IPL #AuctionDay #IPLMegaAuction2022

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 12, 2022

MR. IPL SURESH RAINA IS UNSOLD.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 12, 2022

 

Changing times. One of the greats of the IPL, Suresh Raina goes unsold.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 12, 2022

 

List of Unsold Players

1	David Miller
2	Suresh Raina
3	Steve Smith
4	Shakib Al Hasan