On the eve of the IPL 2025 auction, former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) players Abdul Samad and Shahbaz Ahmed delivered standout performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), serving a timely reminder about their ability to the franchises ahead of the bidding event.
Abdul Samad, representing Jammu & Kashmir, played a pivotal role in his team’s victory over Jharkhand. Coming in at a critical juncture, Samad unleashed a blistering unbeaten 74 off just 29 balls, propelling his side to a massive total of 224/4. His innings was characterized by aggressive stroke play, including 5 fours and 7 sixes, which shifted the momentum in favour of Jammu & Kashmir.
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Later in the day, Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed showed his all-round prowess against Punjab. Ahmed played an unbelievable knock of an unbeaten 100 off 49 deliveries after walking in to bat at 10/4 in a 180-run chase. His effort helped his team to a memorable victory and he had also claimed a wicket with his bowling earlier in the match.
Both players were released by SRH ahead of the IPL 2025 retention deadline on October 31. Their recent performances in the SMAT have reignited interest among franchises. Samad has entered the auction with a base price of INR 30 lakhs, while Ahmed has set his base price at INR 1 crore.
The IPL 2025 auction is scheduled to commence tomorrow in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This marks the second occasion the auction is being held outside India, following the previous year’s event in Dubai. A total of 577 players are set to be featured in the mega auction.
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Franchises will be keenly observing the auction dynamics, especially considering the performances of players like Samad and Ahmed. Their recent exploits in domestic cricket have not only shown their current form but also highlighted their potential to contribute significantly in the T20 format.
As the auction unfolds, it will be intriguing to see how teams strategize their bids, particularly for players who have demonstrated match-winning capabilities in recent tournaments.
