5 IPL 2025 cricketers who might go unsold in IPL 2026 Auction

In the hotly contested climate of the IPL, even regular big stars might find themselves getting sidelined, if their recent records and age profile do not befit a franchise's long‑term thinking or the economic reality.

IPL 2026 franchise decision-makers will balance not only previous glories but also recent performance trends, age, and auction estimates. All these players with huge price tags or aged profiles mean these five players are firmly on the "may remain unsold" list. For these superstars, recapturing their form in other T20 tournaments in the coming months could be the key to remaining on IPL teams.

Before the IPL 2026 auction, five top IPL 2025 players who, reputations aside, may not sell so easily are listed below.

1. Glenn Maxwell (Punjab Kings)

Glenn Maxwell, aged 36, had a far cry from the rampaging batting performances the fans have grown accustomed to during IPL 2025. Acquired by Punjab Kings for ₹4.2 crore in the 2025 auction, Maxwell scored a paltry 41 runs from five innings, averaging 8.20 and having a strike rate of precisely 100.00, which is a far cry from his career averages. 

With only four wickets for 8.46 in six games and out of action mid-season with a fractured finger, Maxwell's high price, increasing age, and sharp decline in form could dissuade franchises from wanting to maximise their overseas quotas.

2. Liam Livingstone (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, 32, was RCB's most expensive purchase in 2025 at ₹8.75 crore. In 10 games, he accumulated 112 runs at an average of 16.00 and a strike rate of 133.33, hitting only one fifty (54 against Gujarat Titans) before dipping back into inconsistency. 

While his leg-spin provides value, Livingstone's return did not make the big auction spend worthwhile, and other franchises with smaller budgets might prefer younger, more consistent all-rounders.

3. Moeen Ali (Kolkata Knight Riders)

37 years old, Moeen Ali was bought by KKR for ₹2 crore but contributed little with the bat. He made only five runs in two innings and only six wickets at nearly 23.00 average in the six matches he played during the season. 

Though his off‑spin is neat, T20 franchises more and more prefer specialists or young multi‑dimensional players, and hence Moeen's dual of limited batting contribution and backline bowling role can be a concern at the auction.

4. Faf du Plessis (Delhi Capitals)

Experienced South African Faf du Plessis is 41 years old now, having been born in July 2025. He scored a little more than 200 runs for Delhi Capitals from 10 games, approximating a 20.20 average and strike rate of about 137, which was marked by a single 62 against KKR. 

Even with his unblemished record of having scored 4,571 runs at an average of 35.99 overall in the IPL and leadership abilities, his increasing age, along with a diminished contribution in 2025, may have franchises overlook his base price of ₹2 crore in favour of younger top‑order prospects.

5. Vijay Shankar (Chennai Super Kings)

Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar, aged 34 now, gave hints of his previous ODI potential by scoring 118 runs from five innings at a decent average of 39.33 and strike rate of 129.67 in IPL 2025. However, he didn't grab any wickets in those games, diluting his worth as a true all-rounder. He could not win any game for his team with the bat as well. 

With franchises tending to look for clean role players instead of part-timers, Shankar's mediocre batting and no bowling returns make him a gamble at auction.

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