Cricket News

IPL Auction snub doesn’t dim Phil Salt, smashes 2nd consecutive T20I century

Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena was excited yesterday as all ten IPL franchises locked horns in the highly anticipated player auction. Each team scrambled to build championship-calibre squads, hoping to hoist the coveted IPL trophy next May. Amidst the bidding frenzy, several talented players witnessed their lives transformed in a whirlwind of money and opportunity. Stars like Mitchell Starc soared to record-breaking prices, leaving them and their families with life-changing deals.

While several reputed players found lucrative contracts at the auction, a few surprising names remained unsold despite consistent, impactful performances. Among them was England’s dynamic 27-year-old batsman, Phillip Salt.

His international exploits speak volumes, with a blistering strike rate exceeding 165 in 20 T20Is and 130 in 19 ODIs. His dominance extends beyond national colours, evidenced by a strike rate surpassing 150 in a whopping 215 T20s overall. Given his sustained destructive firepower, Salt’s absence from the auctioned ranks was nothing short of a shocker.

To add to it, the recent form was also in his favour. Just two days before the auction, he hammered a magnificent century in a must-win T20 against West Indies. Chasing a daunting 222, Salt bludgeoned 109 off 56 balls, single-handedly steering England to victory. This fiery display only amplified the shockwaves of his auction snub, adding an extra layer of perplexity to an already head-scratching omission.

However, the swashbuckling English batsman had the most emphatic response imaginable. In the 4th T20I against West Indies yesterday, Salt smashed another breathtaking century, scoring 119 runs off just 57 balls. This electrifying display not only powered England to a convincing 75-run victory but also served as a powerful statement of his undeniable talent.

“It was a confusing moment”

The dust had barely settled after Salt’s hurricane of a knock, but he was expectedly asked about the snub. Salt admitted that he was ‘confused’ as he had ticked all the boxes ahead of the IPL auction. “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,” he said.

While the snub might have stung, witnessing his teammates get good deals brought immense delight to Salt. “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,” he added.