Phil Salt perplexed by being overlooked in IPL auction

Speaking after hammering England's highest T20I score against West Indies in Tarouba, the wicketkeeper-batter says he was a victim of the "lottery" of the process after missing out on one of the 30 remaining overseas spots

Nick Howson | 20/12/2023 at 10:20

England's Phil Salt has bemoaned his misfortune after missing out on an Indian Premier League contract during the annual auction.

The 27-year-old was unsold at his base price of 1.5 crore (approximately £150,000) on Tuesday (December 20) despite being part of the Delhi Capitals' squad in 2023.

He scored 218 runs at 27.25 with a strike rate of 163.91 but was among the players released last month.

However, it was anticipated he would be under consideration for one of the 30 remaining overseas slots. Part of set No.3, he was overlooked by all 10 franchises and must now hope for a replacement deal over the coming months.

"It was a confusing morning," said Salt.

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Salt was released ahead of the auction but finished the 2023 season as the Capitals' third-highest run-scorer (MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)

"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. 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.

"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."

Six Englishmen did strike it lucky, with Harry Brook (Capitals), Chris Woakes (Punjab Kings), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Rajasthan Royals), David Willey (Lucknow Super Giants), Tom Curran (Royal Challengers Bangalore) and Gus Atkinson (Kolkata Knight Riders) joining their nine countrymen who were retained by their respective teams.

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Successive centuries for Salt have helped set up a series decider in Trinidad (RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Salt's snub is particularly galling given it comes in between his maiden T20 centuries in successive matches against West Indies - the second of which in Tarouba was England's highest in the international format. The Lancashire man cracked 119 from 57 balls, hammering seven fours and 10 sixes as the tourists put on a record 267 for 3.

The Windies produced a valiant effort in the chase, keeping up with the required rate for long periods, but a continual loss of wickets saw them dismissed for 192 in the 16th over.

"It was probably a little bit of it, subconsciously" Salt, back in the Caribbean where his enthusiasm for cricket first blossomed, said when asked what factor the IPL auction had on his innings. "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."