Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth said he has no idea why no IPL team went for Michael Bracewell in the IPL 2026 mini auction. Bracewell led New Zealand in a three-match ODI series against India, which the visitors won by 2-1.
Bracewell returned with impressive figures of 1-34 in his quota of 10 overs in the second ODI at Rajkot. The left-handed batter added the finishing touches in the third game at Indore, scoring 28 runs off just 18 balls with the help of one four and three maximums. Thus, he played a key role in lifting New Zealand to 337.
Bracewell had set his base price at INR 2 crore but found no buyers in the auction. Srikkanth said Glenn Phillips, who scored a fine century, played in the long-on and long-off region.
“No. 5 is the position for Glenn Phillips and he equally played well in the previous game. He didn’t play in the V and stuck to playing in long-on, mid-on and mid-off. Phillips did play the short-pitched delivery to mid-wicket but hit sixes straight. The wicket was superb and the ball was coming on well, so it was pinging off the bat,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel.
“Michael Bracewell’s knock was crucial too and it was the reason New Zealand jumped from 300 too 330. He hit sixes effortlessly. I don’t understand how no IPL team went for him. Bracewell couldn’t bowl due to some injury but I have no idea how no IPL team went for him. I don’t understand how IPL teams select their players,” he added.
The 1983 World Cup-winning player showered praise on Glenn Phillips after he scored a brilliant knock of 106 runs off 88 balls. He added 219 runs with Daryl Mitchell, who scored 137 runs.
He added, “Hats off. New Zealand were 5/2 and then 3/58. They were only scoring at five runs per over and to make 277 from there, Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell batted briskly in their 219-run partnership. They batted at a different level. Credit where its due. What a batting from Glenn Phillips! I haven’t seen an innings like that. It was a flat wicket but Phillips’ shots were outstanding. Phillips took some time to settle on and then started playing his shots.”
India and New Zealand will next take on each other in a five-match T20I series.
