The IPL 2025 auction came with quite a few surprises as several big names remained unsold. Among overseas players, stalwarts like David Warner, Kane Williamson, and Jonny Bairstow went unsold. Meanwhile, on the Indian front, the absence of bids for players like Prithvi Shaw, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav shocked many. Recently, Umesh Yadav addressed his unsold status in the IPL 2025 auction during a conversation with InsideSport.
Umesh Yadav Reflects on His IPL 2025 Snub
The Nagpur-born pacer expressed that going unsold in the IPL auction was shocking for him, leaving him frustrated and disturbed. Umesh Yadav mentioned he didn’t expect to go without a bidder in the 2025 season, especially since he has played in every IPL season from 2010 to 2024 and was also a key part of the Indian team during this period. He also mentioned that his name coming late in the auction might have contributed to him going unsold.
“Everyone knows that I wasn’t selected for the IPL this year. I have been playing for 15 years. It (unsold at IPL 2025) is very shocking for me. Why should I lie? It feels bad. After playing so much and playing close to 150 IPL matches, you don’t get selected. It’s shocking,” Umesh Yadav told InsideSport.
“It’s upon the franchises and their strategies, or my name came late in the auction, and they weren’t left with money. Regardless, something has happened. I am very frustrated and disturbed. But still, it’s okay. I can’t change anyone’s decision.” he further added.
Umesh Yadav will turn 38 this May. He is at an age where continuing a career as a pace bowler becomes challenging. He shared that as long as he feels capable of clocking 140 kmph, he will continue playing. He added that the day his bowling loses pace, he will retire on his own terms.
Umesh Yadav’s performance in 2024 was not particularly impressive. Playing for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024, he managed to take 8 wickets in 7 matches before being benched. In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, he played only one match and found himself out of the playing XI.
Yadav’s last appearance was for Vidarbha in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in November. Umesh is currently part of Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy squad, which will begin its next phase on January 23.
