• Phil Salt couldn't find a buyer in the IPL 2024 mini-auction in Dubai.

  • Salt smashed his second consecutive T20I century against West Indies after going unsold at the IPL bidding.

Ian Bishop, Sam Billings and others react to Phil Salt going unsold at IPL 2024 auction after his second consecutive T20I ton
Ian Bishop, Sam Billings and others react to Phil Salt going unsold at IPL 2024 auction (Image Source: Twitter)

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The IPL 2024 mini-auction in Dubai’s Coca-Cola arena was a spectacle of cash-flowing and high-profile deals. However, amid the glitz and glamour, there were also some surprising omissions that stirred conversations across the cricketing fraternity.

Among the notable names who failed to secure a deal in the IPL 2024 bidding process was England’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt. The apparent lack of interest from all franchises in acquiring the explosive English player with a base price of INR 1.5 crore left fans and experts perplexed.

Phil Salt’s outstanding performances in the T20I series against West Indies

What added to the bewilderment was Salt’s outstanding form in the T20I series against West Indies. Despite going unsold in the world’s richest cricket league, he continued to showcase his brilliance, smashing his way to a second consecutive century in the fourth match of the leg against the Caribbean side. The explosive right-handed batter scored a remarkable 119 runs off just 57 balls, guiding his team to a series-levelling victory.

Fans and experts baffled over IPL franchises’ lack of interest in Salt

The incredible display of batting prowess from Salt further fueled the discourse around why IPL franchises opted to overlook him, garnering reactions from some prominent cricketing personalities.

Ian Bishop’s surprise and social media statement

Former West Indies cricketer and renowned commentator Ian Bishop took to social media to express his surprise, stating, “Really surprised Phil Salt wasn’t picked up in the auction earlier today. Even before this second consecutive T20I century.”

Bishop’s sentiments echoed the sentiments of many fans who found Salt’s omission from the IPL squads hard to fathom.

Also READ: Fans go crazy as Mitchell Starc shatters records, becomes the costliest buy in IPL history

Sam Billings’ astonishment

Joining the chorus of disbelief was English cricketer Sam Billings, who conveyed his astonishment with a touch of humour, saying, “How has Phil Salt not been picked up in the auction…. Unbelievable,” accompanied by a brain fade emoji.

England Cricket Board’s cheeky dig at IPL franchises

The official handle of England cricket also joined in on the banter, taking a cheeky dig at the IPL committee. Sharing a picture of Salt celebrating his century in the fourth T20I, the ECB playfully tagged the IPL in their tweet with the caption “cc: @IPL.”

Here’s how fans reacted to Salt’s snub:

Also READ: Top 5 costliest buy in the history of IPL

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.