The Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25 has produced unlimited entertainment, and some brilliant talent has been on display in the Australian domestic T20 competition. Be it the veteran David Warner or the up-and-coming Cooper Connolly, this season’s BBL so far, with its Finals yet to come, has been a joyful ride for the audiences.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always had last-minute injury problems, especially among overseas players. Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer are prime examples of this. So here are the top five BBL stars from the 2024-25 season that weren’t picked in the IPL 2025 auction but could be the best picks as replacement players for IPL 2025.
A household name in India, Warner had not been in his element for the past few seasons before he eventually went unsold in IPL 2025 auction. However, right after the auction, the 38-year-old showed that he still has fire in him, smashing 346 runs in nine innings at an average of 57.66 and strike rate of 142.38.
With three fifties to his name and at least one match to come, he is in the race to finish his first full-fledged BBL in more than a decade as the season’s highest run-scorer. He is just six runs behind young Cooper Connolly, who has no more matches left to play.
Jason Behrendorff, a more than ‘just heard of’ name now in the IPL circuit, might not have got interest from the franchises this time around, but it looks like a sure-shot replacement choice.
Behrendorff was replaced by Luke Wood after getting injured ahead of IPL 2024. But he is no stranger to replacing players, having replaced his Aussie mate Josh Hazlewood at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021.
As for BBL, after not being given a Western Australia contract, the left-arm seamer took the challenge head-on and produced a fantastic show, picking 17 wickets in 10 games and leading the wicket-takers chart at the end of the league stage, but his team failed to qualify for the Finals.
Since left-arm seamers are always in demand in IPL, the 34-year-old Perth man would fancy his chances of signing a fifth contract in the richest cricket league, having played for Mumbai Indians twice (2019 and 2023) and being signed by CSK and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) before.
One of the up-and-coming bowlers who can also wield the willow, Ben Dwarshuis, did not get picked at the IPL Auction. However, he showed why he deserves a call-up from the Indian league after posting 100 runs with the bat at an average of 33 and taking 12 wickets in nine matches.
He recently debuted for Australia as well. With experience of one ODI and three T20Is along with 146 BBL games, the 31-year-old seems to have what it takes to play in IPL.
Though it was Sam Konstas who took the limelight this summer in Australia, another youngster, Connolly, did well with the bat quietly and made a name for himself as well. Also part of the Scorchers set-up, the 21-year-old hit 351 runs, mostly batting at number four, averaging more than 50 and striking at 131.
However, it is hard for overseas batters to break out, especially when they don’t have a strike rate above 150. But with Connolly being so young and filled with so much potential, he might be on the radar of most franchises to be signed as a young talent with a lot of potential to unfold. The left-arm spinner even picked six wickets in his 24 overs in the tournament.
Matthew Short, who has previously played in the IPL for the Punjab Kings, put on a great showing in this season of the BBL, taking six wickets in as many innings with the ball and smashing a century and a fifty to score 236 runs at an average of 33.71 and strike rate of 171.
With all-round ability and familiarity with the IPL, as well as batting in the top order, Short could be shortlisted among players as a replacement option in IPL 2025.