A shocking turn of events, as Kane Williamson goes unsold in PSL 2025, leaving cricket fans and experts alike baffled. With his illustrious career and reputation as one of the finest batsmen in modern cricket, the New Zealand star was expected to attract many bidders in the Platinum category round of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Draft held at Lahore’s historic Huzoori Bagh on Monday. The remaining ten players were contracted in the same premium category as Williamson, yet no one bided for his name.
This is the second time Williamson has been overlooked in a big auction. He was unsold in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in November as well. At 34, the veteran batter’s classical approach to T20 batting seems increasingly misaligned with the fast-paced demands of modern franchise cricket, which favors explosive hitters and utility players.
What Went Wrong for Kane Williamson as he goes unsold in PSL 2025?
Several factors may drive decisions to omit Williamson from the PSL Draft. First among those is his relatively low strike rate in T20 matches which frequently do not coincide with the intensive hitting requirement in the format. Notably, his recent injury made him unavailable for top-tier tournaments quite often in the recent past.
Another critical aspect is his declining T20 presence in New Zealand. Williamson played no T20 Internationals in 2023 and only two games during the 2022-24 T20 World Cup cycle. This lack of match practice and consistent fitness concerns have likely contributed to his diminished marketability in franchise cricket.
Interestingly, Williamson’s case is part of a larger trend in T20 leagues. Even stalwarts like David Warner, who used to be the IPL’s top performer, have begun to look towards the PSL after losing steam elsewhere. However, Williamson’s exclusion is remarkable, given his international record of 2,575 runs in 93 T20Is at an average of 33.44.
As Kane Williamson goes unsold in PSL, fans are left wondering if the game moves too fast for traditional anchors or if the veteran batter can stage a comeback in the shorter format.
Also, see:
Multan Sultan sign Gudakesh Motie for PSL 2025
