Salt had a very good season with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023 and was expected to fetch big money in the auction
Phil Salt was a revelation for Delhi Capitals last season, having made 218 runs at a strike rate of 163.91. But that wasn’t enough for the franchise to retain him. However, being a top-order batsman and wicket-keeper, he was expected to attract big money at the auction and the belief was exacerbated by the fact that he hit his maiden T20 century a day before the big event in Dubai. .
To put things into perspective, in 2023 alone, Salt has amassed 1,281 runs at a strike rate of 160.9 with two centuries and six half-centuries. However, it was the dynamics of the IPL that made him unsold at his base price of 1.5 Cr. It did not affect his performance the next morning though as the Sussex opener went on to score his second successive T20 century to help England clinch the series against the West Indies, but it certainly left him scratching his head.
“It was a confusing morning. I was expecting to be picked up, after going out there last year and doing so well and after the year I had, but these things happen,” Salt said.
“It’s part of the auction lottery. It happens in drafts as well. There are a few players in our locker room who are going to have a very good Christmas and I’m very happy for them. I was a little bit happy,” he added. “It’s baffling, but This could happen. There are no bad cricketers on the list in the Indian Premier League. “It’s one of those things.”
If rejection was hard to digest, Salt was lucky to have a combination of things going for him. His double knock in the Caribbean almost earned him a permanent place in England’s squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in the West Indies and the USA.
“Maybe it was to some extent, subconsciously. I’m very aware of how lucky I am to be here playing cricket. I’m playing good cricket, doing what I came here to do. And most importantly,” the players have really come together and shown how much we new team. West Indies are a very good team to play against so we have to win two games in a row and be forced to make the crucial decision in two days’ time.” ‘Time, I’m upset,’ he said.