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Suresh Raina, Steve Smith (Image source: Twitter)
Every year, the auction springs in some surprises. Several world-class players end up going unsold every season, and this hurts their fans. The ongoing mega auction has already seen the same. While several individuals bagged huge contracts, some couldn't find any bidders.
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It came as an absolute shocker to all the cricket fans when the likes of Suresh Raina and Steve Smith went unsold in the first round. It is to be noted that Raina has arguably been one of the greatest players in the history of the league. Over the years, he has been synonymous with Chennai.
As a matter of fact, several fans expected the defending champions to get him back. In fact, a few experts reckoned that Lucknow could end up getting their local boy too. However, having said that, Raina hasn't been in the best of form of late, and has struggled with his fitness as well.
The former number three batter of Chennai had a poor season in 2021 too. As for Steve Smith, the Aussie batter didn't get too many games for Delhi in the previous season. However, owing to his reputation, he was expected to get a few bidders.
Besides, he plays the role of an anchor to perfection, and is a captaincy option as well. Thus, it wouldn't be surprising if the batting maestro does get sold sometime later during the auction. In the meanwhile, even the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and David Miller went unsold as well.
Seeing all these veteran players going unsold was absolutely disheartening for all the fans. Several Twitter users felt that this was an "end of an era" as Raina has been one of the faces of the league.
Steve Smith goes unsold! 🇦🇺#IPLAuction #TATAIPLAuction #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/sDvceZxB7G
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 12, 2022
Steve Smith Watching teams fight for Jason Holder #IPLMegaAuction2022 pic.twitter.com/TULFCZ0bTB
— Sujith Matharasi (@Sujith_RedDevil) February 12, 2022
Suresh Raina, the Mr. IPL, unsold. Steve Smith unsold.
— Smriti Sinha (@smritisinha99) February 12, 2022
Maine nahi dekhna yaar auction😭😭😭#IPLAuction #IPLMegaAuction #IPLAuction2022 #IPL2022MegaAuction #IPL2022Auction
Suresh Raina, Steve Smith, and Shakib Al Hasan were among the high-profile names who went unsold in the #IPL2022Auction#IPLAuction #IPLMegaAuction2022https://t.co/0by47KJf4C
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) February 12, 2022
Steve Smith is next - He also goes UNSOLD #TATAIPLAuction @TataCompanies
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) February 12, 2022
Suresh Raina's IPL Sagaaptham ends. Was an absolute legend of the IPL, but time has come to move on. Thank you, Raina.
— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) February 12, 2022
I am a bit surprised that @ChennaiIPL didn’t go for Raina today but they are likely to do so, come tomorrow. Why I am saying that because their belief in Bravo is intact. #IPLAuction #IPL2022Auction #IPL2022 #iplauctionbid2022 #iplauctionbid2022
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) February 12, 2022
Sad not to see a single bid for Mr IPL @ImRaina in the first round.. @IPL #AuctionDay #IPLMegaAuction2022
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 12, 2022
MR. IPL SURESH RAINA IS UNSOLD.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 12, 2022
Changing times. One of the greats of the IPL, Suresh Raina goes unsold.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 12, 2022