The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has long been the IPL’s unofficial audition room. Perform loudly enough in November, and there’s usually an auction paddle waiting in December. From Hardik Pandya’s early Baroda days to recent uncapped sensations earning instant contracts, SMAT has been a proven shortcut to the big league.
Despite being played close enough to the IPL 2026 auction for franchises to collect a healthy sample size, several standout performers were left staring at unsold boards. This wasn’t about a lack of data; teams had numbers, footage, and context. Instead, it exposed the harsh economics of modern IPL auctions: capped squads, tight budgets, overseas priorities, and an overcrowded uncapped market.
Karan Lal: When strike rate still isn’t enough
Karan Lal
Quick scoring is expected to be the key to success in Twenty20 cricket; Karan Lal did not merely score quickly, he fired up assaults. With his 113 off 50 deliveries while chasing 209 from Himachal Pradesh, Lal had one of the defining hits of SMAT 2025.
Lal amassed 219 runs across 7 innings, for an average of 31.28 with a strike rate of 198.03 – exceptional totals by any domestic standard. As Bengal’s third-highest scorer, he displayed the ability to hit a variety of shots, including powerful ones, while batting against quick bowlers.
So why no bids? Ironically, because he’s an Indian opener, a role franchises think they’ve already solved. Established names, retained youngsters, and long-term projects clogged that slot. Lal became a victim of perception: explosive, yes, but not “unique” enough in an auction drowning in options.
KM Asif: Proven skills, unfashionable timing
KM Asif
KM Asif’s SMAT 2025 numbers read like a throwback to when control mattered more than hype. 15 wickets in six matches, an average of 9.20, and an economy of 6.73; those are match-winning metrics in any T20 league.
But auctions are rarely fair to bowlers who don’t scream “future superstar.” Asif’s skiddy style, while effective, doesn’t align with franchises chasing raw pace or novelty. Teams leaned toward an unknown ceiling rather than known reliability, even when the latter was cheaper and immediately usable.
Tanay Thyagrajan: Momentum arrived too late
Tanay Thyagrajan
Tanay Thyagrajan’s timing was very important for his SMAT 2025 campaign for the Punjab Kings, as he started slow and finished with much more momentum than he had when he started. At the end of the season, Tanay had taken 16 wickets in ten games for an average of 18.00 per game and a 7.20 economy. In his final three games before the player auction, he took eight wickets. The fact that he had some unused batting skills (i.e., a 50-run score in a low chase) helped add even more value to his campaign.
Yet the auction clock doesn’t wait. Early impressions hardened, and franchises had already allocated spin slots. In a format obsessed with first impressions, Tanay’s late bloom simply arrived after the door had closed.
Anmolpreet Singh: Consistency, punished by reputation
Anmolpreet Singh
Anmolpreet Singh’s problem wasn’t form it was memory. Despite scoring 349 runs in 10 matches at 34.90 with a strike rate of 175.37, he was treated like yesterday’s file.
Punjab’s second-highest run-scorer, Anmolpreet, has quietly rebuilt his white-ball credentials. Add to that his record-breaking fastest List-A hundred by an Indian last year, and the evidence was overwhelming.
But IPL auctions are unforgiving to players who’ve already been labeled. His previous stint with MI, though limited, created a ceiling in buyers’ minds. In a market obsessed with “new,” sustained domestic excellence became strangely invisible.
Key Takeaway
In the IPL auction, form opens the door but timing decides who walks through.
FAQs
1. What is SMAT 2025’s importance for IPL auctions?
It offers franchises recent, high-pressure T20 data just weeks before the auction.
2. Why do in-form SMAT players still go unsold?
Squad balance, budget limits, and role saturation often outweigh performance.
3. How can unsold players return to the IPL?
Continued domestic form and mid-season injury replacements remain key pathways.
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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