James Vince And…? 3 T20 Superstars Who NEVER Managed To Land An IPL Contract

The last decade has seen the growth of T20 franchise leagues across the globe spiral out of control, but still, the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains the premier franchise competition in world cricket. Naturally, then, you’d expect the best T20 players in the world to feature in the IPL, and that’s been the case largely.

‘Largely’ because, believe it or not, a handful of T20 superstars have never managed to even land an IPL contract, let alone play in the competition.

We look at a few such individuals who are unquestionably T20 greats, but have never featured in the best T20 competition in the world.

James Vince

Unquestionably, without a shadow of doubt, the best T20 player ever to have not played in the IPL. With an extraordinary 12,514 T20 runs to his name, Vince is the third-highest run-getter in T20s among England players, and looks primed to finish his career at the very top. He has featured in 17 T20Is as well.

And yet, despite making 56 PSL appearances, 79 BBL appearances and starring in a bunch of other competitions, the Englishman has NEVER managed to land an IPL contract. You can say it’s a result of just being the right man at the wrong time.

It also hasn’t helped Vince’s case that he’s been an accumulator rather than a dasher. IPL teams have largely moved away from investing in overseas batters who are accumulators. 

Waqar Salamkheil

Afghanistan’s Waqar Salamkheil has left a mark in every franchise competition he’s played, except the IPL. Because he’s never been able to secure an IPL contract to this very date.

Salamkheil is a CPL cult hero who has also played the BBL, PSL, SA20, ILT20 and LPL. Just hours ago, he was the Player of the Match in the first game of CPL 2025, taking 4/22 with the ball. But he’s somehow never landed an IPL contract despite other Afghan mystery spinners such as Mujeeb and Noor Ahmad playing for multiple sides.

Interestingly, Salamkheil has never played T20Is to date as well. He’s only 23, though, so both these things could change very soon.

Samit Patel

England veteran Samit Patel has played 426 T20 matches, but not a single one of them has come in the IPL. Considering Patel has never been an ‘x-factor player’, it’s not too much of a surprise, but you’d still have expected him to land an IPL contract at the very least, considering a lot of evidently inferior T20 cricketers have played the IPL over him.

Again, a proper T20 veteran, Patel has played in the BBL, PSL, The Hundred, ILT20, BPL, CPL and plenty of other leagues. However, his CV unfortunately does not include the IPL. 

At 40, that ship has sailed.