There’s a peculiar irony in modern IPL auctions: teams obsess over pace, yet sometimes overlook a pacer who actually ticks most tactical boxes. Jhye Richardson, going unsold at the IPL 2026 auction again, falls squarely into that category. A 29-year-old Australian quick with powerplay skill, death-overs control, and international pedigree failing to attract even a late paddle raise is not just surprising; it’s revealing.
Jhye Richardson’s first season in the IPL cost a whopping INR 1.5 crores, and Richardson had no takers to take him for the second year. Richardson has only a few games to show with the IPL as he has only played three matches, taking only three wickets and having an economy of 10.63. Richardson has 103 wickets from 76 T20 games and an economy of 7.82 in the Big Bash League. He has even achieved five four-wicket hauls. In total, he has 125 wickets from 98 T20 games. It appears that the IPL is experiencing a form of risk aversion as well as being somewhat blind to all other aspects.
Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow Super Giants’ auction strategy screamed first-choice obsession without second-choice insurance. Their aggressive push for Anrich Nortje made sense, raw pace always does, but the absence of a credible backup bordered on negligence. Nortje’s injury history is well-documented; he has never completed a full IPL season since debuting in 2020/21.
Rather than hedging that risk with Josh Inglis (a wicket-keeper/batsman who was only available to play in 4 matches in 2026), LSG opted to spend their money on a player who is very similar to a batsman they already had, Mitchel Marsh, who last year was exclusively batting. When you consider India’s current pool of fast bowlers is largely based around Mohammad Shami and Avesh Khan, Richardson would have made an excellent ‘plug-in and go’ option. He has a similar pace profile, is much more likely to be available, and has proven his ability to bowl effectively in T20 cricket.
Chennai Super Kings
CSK’s auction told a story of loss without replacement. Letting go of Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman after fierce bidding wars was understandable, but failing to secure a dependable fallback was not. Nathan Ellis now stands without a like-for-like safety net.
Matt Henry’s IPL numbers (two wickets in six games, economy 10.64) offer little reassurance, while Jamie Overton’s underwhelming 2025 season still lingers. The death overs are now expected to be managed by Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, and the inexperienced Gurjapneet Singh, a combination high on hope, low on evidence. Richardson’s dual-phase effectiveness could have added exactly the kind of quiet reliability CSK traditionally thrives on.
SunRisers Hyderabad
SunRisers Hyderabad’s bowling blueprint has become alarmingly one-dimensional. With Mohammad Shami traded to LSG, the franchise is now heavily dependent on skipper Pat Cummins. Harshal Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy leaked runs at over nine per over in IPL 2025, while Eshan Malinga, though promising, remains raw.
Brydon Carse’s career T20 numbers, 58 wickets in 88 matches at a 9.09 economy, hardly suggest an upgrade. Jaydev Unadkat’s limited usage further exposes depth issues. Richardson, effective in both powerplays and slog overs, would have complemented Cummins perfectly, offering SRH balance rather than burdening their captain with yet another overs-management headache.
Key Takeaway
Jhye Richardson wasn’t overpriced; he was under-analyzed.
FAQs
- What happened to Jhye Richardson at the IPL 2026 auction?
He went unsold for the second straight year despite a base price of INR 1.5 crore.
- Why is Richardson considered a strong T20 bowler?
He excels in powerplays and death overs, with 125 T20 wickets and elite BBL numbers.
- How could IPL teams benefit from him in future seasons?
As a reliable, dual-phase fast bowler who adds balance rather than headline hype.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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