icon

'No bad cricketers on the list at the IPL': Phil Salt who hit 2 centuries in 4 days left confused after IPL snub

England's destructive wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt was left confused by IPL 2024 auction snub. Salt went on to score 119 against West Indies.

England wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt celebrates his century against England (Getty Images)
authorSportsTak Desk
Wed, 20 Dec 09:14 PM IST

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 mini-auction saw a few record-breaking bids when Australia skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc were picked for a record-breaking price. But England’s wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt who had scored a century against West Indies a couple of days ago was surprisingly not picked up by any of the 10 franchises. Left confused after the IPL auction, Salt went on to slam another century as England posted the second-highest T20I total. 
 

"It was a confusing morning. I expected to be picked up, having gone there last year and done well and after the year that I've had, but these things happen," Salt told the reporters after smashing 119 off just 57 balls. 

 

Follow the Sports Tak channel on WhatsApp
 

In the previous edition’s auction, Salt was picked up for Rs 2 crore by Delhi Capitals (DC). But DC had a poor season and Salt got off to a good start before showing his true colours. He scored 218 runs from nine matches at an average of 27.25 including two half-centuries. He scored at a strike rate of 163.91. As a result, Salt was released by DC. They were bidding aggressively for Colin Munro who could not make an impact last season but ignored Salt. But the 27-year-old was happy that his teammates were picked in the auction.

"It's part of the lottery of an auction, it happens in draft processes as well. There's a few lads in our dressing room who are going to have a very good Christmas and I'm over the moon for them," Salt said. 
 

"I was a bit confused but it can happen. There's no bad cricketers on the list at the IPL. It's one of those things," he added.
 

Salt admitted that it was in the back of his mind when he went out to bat at Brian Lara Stadium. His 57-ball 119 was laced with seven furs and 10 sixes. He was dismissed in the penultimate over by Andre Russell.
 

"It was probably a little bit of it, subconsciously. I'm very aware of how lucky I am to be here playing cricket. I'm playing good cricket, I'm doing what I came out here to do. More importantly than that, the boys have really pulled together and shown what a good team we are. The West Indies are a very good side that we're playing against so to win back-to-back games and force the decider in a couple of days' time, I'm chuffed," he further added.
 

MORE ON SPORTS TAK: 

‘We felt like we needed to improve at home’: RCB skipper Faf du Plessis opens about IPL auction 2024 strategy     

Punjab Kings falsify media reports, clarify what led to confusion over Shashank Singh in IPL Auction