10 international stars snubbed at IPL auctions

#7 Usman Khawaja (2016)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 24: Usman Khawaja of the Thunder walks off after being dismissed by David Hussey of the Stars during the Big Bash League final match between Melbourne Stars and the Sydney Thunder at Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 24, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images) — Khwaja has been in scintillating form in the Big Bash

Usman Khawaja had a breakthrough season in 2015-16 for his Big Bash franchise, Sydney Thunder. He scored a whopping 345 runs in just 4 innings, 3 of which were match-winners.

But it was not just in T20s that he was flourishing. He was in incredible touch right through the season for country and club alike.

Since the Gabba Test against New Zealand, Khawaja's scores across formats read 174, 9*, 121, 109*, 144, 56, 62, 104* and 70. It totals to a mammoth 849 runs at 141.5 across all formats. His form had Aussie selector, Mark Waugh commenting, "He is batting as well as anyone can possibly bat."

Yet his exploits did not budge the IPL franchises to bid for him and he went unsold in 2016. But surely, such form cannot keep out someone for long and Khawaja was called up by Rising Pune Supergiants when Kevin Pietersen was out injured.

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Edited by Staff Editor