A buzz is being witnessed in the cricketing world as Saudi Arabia has become the stage for IPL 2025 mega auction, to be held on November 24-25 at Jeddah. BCCI is getting ready to stage the grand event while cricket analysts as well as fans have already begun to speculate on which players might face an "unsold" tag. As it will be one of the most interesting auctions in IPL history, some high-profile cricketers-although having played rich careers-will find themselves without a team for the next season. 10 Big Players Who Might Leave Unsold in IPL 2025 Auction Player Name Current Age David Warner 38 Kane Williamson 34 Steve Smith 35 Ajinkya Rahane 36 Matthew Wade 36 Keshav Maharaj 34 Mohammad Nabi 39 Umesh Yadav 37 Manish Pandey 35 Ishant Sharma 36 Players Who Can Be Unsold in IPL 2025 Auction Let's go in-depth about why these great cricketers might not get a contract in the IPL 2025 auction. David Warner Image Source : Indian Premier League The Australian opener's IPL folklore cannot be questioned- for all these years he's been providing explosive batting to the tournament. But Warner's form of late – 168 runs as an opening batsman – is a major cause of worry. When a player is 38, franchises may also become hesitant to invest in him despite their remarkable good record. His returns may well be on the way down, signaling the end of his glorious IPL career. Also Read: Top 5 Most ICC Trophy-Winning Captains | Legendary Leaders IPL 2025 Mega Auction Live Updates IPL 2025: Full Squad List of All 10 Teams After Mega Auction Kane Williamson Image Source : Gujrat Titans The former New Zealand captain is another interesting case. Williamson had taken Sunrisers Hyderabad to the final in 2018 with a fantastic show of 735 runs. Since then, Williamson's IPL performance has only been in a downward curve. Injury incidents and his decision to relinquish white-ball captaincy for New Zealand haven't helped either lately. Williamson has 2,128 runs from his 79 games in the IPL, for which he remains a prized asset, but what might raise concerns among the potential buyers is his recurring fitness issues. Steve Smith Image Source : BCCI The fact that Smith hasn't featured in IPL since 2021 speaks volumes about his T20 value depleting. A player who was one of the best batsmen ever to grace the cricket field had to be ruled out from Australia's T20 World Cup squad-only to highlight how little charm he possesses in this format. Though his leadership qualities are still great assets, he may not be the first choice for many franchises when they go about their auctioning. Ajinkya Rahane Image Source : Associated Press Rahane's story is that of a struggler who adapted to become one of the better pinch-hitters for CSK in 2023, scoring as much as 326 runs with a strike rate of 172.49. It is miles away from his disastrous run in 2024, where he could only manage to score 242 runs with an average of 20.17 at 36. He probably didn't have enough of it to settle him in the auction. Matthew Wade Image Source : ICC Wade has been a disappointment in IPL, managing only 183 runs at 13.07 in 15 games. He has also recently retired from international cricket and hasn't made much of an impact for Gujarat Titans. So, franchises looking for a solid overseas player will be taking a gamble on him. Keshav Maharaj Image Source : Rajasthan Royals Maharaj's brief IPL stint with Rajasthan Royals in 2024 - two wickets in two matches - does not strongly argue for his selection. Though his T20I record - 35 wickets from as many matches - is fairly ordinary, the presence of Indian spin-bowling options could make him expendable for many teams' considerations. Mohammad Nabi Image Source : Associated Press The Afghan all-rounder has had some recent indicators that he is losing his strength lately, especially in the T20 World Cup. At the age of 39, Nabi's dwindling returns in both batting and bowling departments can only make the franchises wary of investing further in him. Umesh Yadav Image Source : BCCI The veteran Indian pacer's numbers have dipped significantly since that scintillating 2022 season. He is now 37, and with others like Shardul Thakur and Arshdeep Singh on the books for young Indian pace, Yadav may not find a slot in the IPL for 2025. Manish Pandey Image Source : Associated Press Despite being the first Indian to score an IPL century and accumulating nearly 4,000 runs, Pandey's influence is scant in the last few seasons. He fails to get adjusted to the demands of modern T20. This may even prove a point to make him unsold in the auction. Ishant Sharma Image Source : BCCI Ishant Sharma will always justify with his experience and talent. Having picked 10 wickets in nine matches for the Delhi Capitals in 2024, Ishant Sharma once again faces the age factor. The franchises may get nervous while taking forward the investment in an old fast bowler like Ishant Sharma, who is now 35 years old. The requirement of a T20 team along with newer pace warriors might make teams rethink their strategy of bidding in this veteran campaigner. While his recent performances are respectable, they may not appeal enough to teams working on long-term bowling units. Also Read | Top 10 Record-Breaking Wins by Runs in ODI Cricket History Conclusion The mega-auction for IPL 2025 will be a turning point for cricketing oldies. These 10 big names that are not sold out in the IPL 2025 auction have contributed significantly to the richness of the tapestry of cricket. However, factors like age, recent form, and the evolution of T20 demands might work against their claims. The result will certainly chart their careers, but also define changing dynamics in T20 cricket, where reputations from the past are no longer the guarantees for a retainer deal. This would see franchises nowadays look forward to building future-ready teams. With these brands now having to reinvent themselves or confront the reality that their IPL journeys may soon be coming to an end, the IPL 2025 auction will thus be a great transitional phase where new talents begin to replace some of cricket's most celebrated names.