Phil Salt left bewildered by IPL auction exclusion
December 19 was a significant day in two different parts of the world. In Dubai, the IPL Auction witnessed two players fetching over INR 20 Crore, creating history. Meanwhile, in Trinidad, England opener Phil Salt smashed 10 sixes on his way to his second consecutive T20I hundred. However, for Salt, December 19 was also a confusing day as he unexpectedly went unsold in the IPL auction.
"It was a confusing morning. I expected to be picked up, especially after performing well last year and having a good year, but these things happen," Salt said after his blistering 57-ball 119 helped England level the series against West Indies.
In last year's auction, Delhi Capitals had secured Salt for his base price of INR 2 Crore. He played in nine matches, scoring 218 runs at a remarkable strike-rate of 163.91. However, he was released from the team and entered this year's auction with a reduced base price of INR 1.50 Crore, only to be snubbed. This year, there was minimal demand for overseas wicketkeeper-batsmen, and even the three who were picked—Tristan Stubbs, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Shai Hope—went for lower base prices of INR 50 Lakh, 40 Lakh, and 75 Lakh respectively. Salt, despite having superior numbers as an opener, didn't find any takers due to the dynamics of the auction.
"It's part of the unpredictability of an auction. It happens in draft processes too. There are a few guys in our dressing room who will have a great Christmas, and I'm genuinely happy for them," Salt remarked, referring to his teammates Harry Brook, Chris Woakes, and Gus Atkinson, who found buyers at the auction. "I was a bit confused, but these things happen. There are no bad cricketers in the IPL list. It's just one of those things," he added.
By the time Salt took the field at the Brian Lara Stadium, his fate for the next year's IPL had already been sealed. However, he responded with a scintillating knock of 119 off 57 balls. He admitted that the turn of events might have played a part in his exceptional innings.
"It probably played a small role subconsciously. I'm very aware of how fortunate I am to be playing cricket. I'm performing well, doing what I came here to do. But more importantly, the team has come together and shown what a strong unit we are. West Indies is a formidable side, and to win back-to-back games and force a decider in a couple of days' time, I'm thrilled," Salt explained.
In Salt's back-to-back centuries in the West Indies, he hit a total of 19 sixes, including 9 in the third T20I and 10 in the fourth. He revealed that he had worked specifically on his ability to hit sixes over the off-side.
"I've focused on hitting sixes over the off-side. I've always been good at hitting the ball towards the sight screen and over the leg-side. When Jason Holder took the pace off and I hit it over the off-side, Jos [Buttler] told me, 'Teams can't bowl to you.' That's an area I've been working on for a while, so it's nice to see it paying off," Salt shared.
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