England opener Philip Salt opened up about not being picked in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction and said that he was expecting to be chosen by a franchise but "these things happen".
The wicketkeeper-batter's century helped England register a 75-run win against West Indies in the 4th T20I match in Trinidad on Wednesday.
The right-handed batter smashed 119 runs from 57 balls that included seven fours and 10 sixes. He had a strike rate of 208.77. His knock helped England have a great start at the Brian Lara Stadium.
Salt was also named the 'Player of the Match' following his blitz in the first inning.
Speaking after the 4th T20I match between England and West Indies, the 27-year-old spoke about IPL auction.
"I expected to be picked up, having gone there last year and done well and after the year that I've had, but these things happen. It's part of the lottery of an auction, it happens in draft processes as well. There's a few lads in our dressing room who are going to have a very good Christmas and I'm over the moon for them," Salt was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying.
The English opener added that there were no bad players at the IPL 2024 auction list.
"I was a bit confused but it can happen. There are no bad cricketers on the list at the IPL. It's one of those things," he added.
The 27-year-old made his IPL debut in the 2023 season for the Delhi Capitals (DC). During his time with the DC, he appeared in 9 matches and scored 218 runs with a strike rate of 163.91.
In the IPL 2024 auction, he went unsold after no franchise placed a bid for the English opener. He had a base price of Rs 1.5 crore.
Referring to the fourth T20I match against the Caribbeans, Salt added that he has been playing good cricket. He also showered praise on his teammates and said that they had pulled together well.
"I'm playing good cricket, I'm doing what I came out here to do. More importantly than that, the boys have really pulled together and shown what a good team we are. The West Indies are a very good side that we're playing against so to win back-to-back games and force the decider in a couple of days' time, I'm chuffed," he added.
