Kane Williamson couldn’t explain it, but he insisted team-mate Martin Guptill would quickly get over his Indian Premier League (IPL) snub.
Remarkably, Guptill missed out twice at the IPL auction in Bangalore and remained the only one of the eight marquee players unsold on Saturday night.
After he attracted no bids with a reserve of just US$111,000, he and fellow marquee man Aaron Finch returned later for a second chance at the request of the franchises, along with other unsold players.
Finch, the Australian opener currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, was snapped up by the new Gujarat team for his reserve of R10 million (US$222,000). Then Guptill’s name was read and there was an eerie silence for a second time, leaving him still awaiting his first IPL deal.
There will be eight New Zealanders in the IPL starting in April. Already contracted are Corey Anderson (Mumbai, US$1m), Trent Boult (Hyderabad, US$845,000), Brendon McCullum (Gujarat, US$600,000), Adam Milne (Bangalore, US$156,000), Williamson (Hyderabad, US$133,000) and Mitchell McClenaghan (Mumbai, US$67,000).
Other Black Caps to miss out at auction included Grant Elliott, Doug Bracewell, Nathan McCullum and Jimmy Neesham.
For Guptill there could be a quick consolation as he enters the Caribbean Premier League draft on Friday with 10 other New Zealanders. (Stuff Sport)
