Cricket

RCB Should Target Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 Mega Auction, Suggests Aakash ChopraFormer India opener Aakash Chopra has strongly advocated for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to make a concerted effort to acquire wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. Chopra believes that Pant's aggressive batting style and suitability to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium's short boundaries make him an ideal fit for RCB."Will you go towards Rishabh Pant? In my opinion, they should go towards him. Again a small ground, it will suit him as well. Please go for him even if you have to go till Rs 25 crore," Chopra emphasized on his YouTube channel.RCB has retained only three players ahead of the auction: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. This leaves them with a substantial budget of Rs 83 crore to build a formidable squad. Chopra suggests that RCB should not hesitate to splurge on Pant, even if it means spending a significant portion of their budget.If RCB decides that Pant is not the right fit, Chopra proposes considering KL Rahul instead. Rahul's familiarity with the local conditions as a "local boy" and his preference for small grounds and flat pitches make him a viable alternative."If you feel you don't need Rishabh Pant and need KL Rahul because he is a local boy and knows this ground as well, he will also like the small ground and flat pitch. So you can also try to bring him with you," Chopra added.RCB may not pursue Shreyas Iyer as aggressively, according to Chopra, as they may leave him for Delhi to target. Pant, Rahul, and Iyer are expected to be highly sought-after players in the auction, having been released by their respective franchises.

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has vehemently dismissed rumors suggesting that head coach Gautam Gambhir could be ousted if the team fails to perform in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. These rumors emerged after India's humiliating whitewash at home by New Zealand, marking their first Test series loss on home soil in nearly 12 years.A report in Dainik Jagran had claimed that Gambhir could be removed from his role in Test cricket if India fails to impress in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins on November 22. The report also speculated that former India batter and current National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman could be asked to take over.However, Chopra has strongly refuted this narrative, labeling it as "malicious intent." He emphasized that it is premature to consider such drastic measures after Gambhir's recent appointment as head coach."I feel it is an absolute rumor. This news seems absolutely baseless that if Team India doesn't perform well in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, then change the coach. Have different coaches for different formats. I'd say it's a little too soon. I see this rumor being floated around with malicious intent. Gambhir has just been made the head coach. It does not happen like this that if players are not performing, fire the coach. This is not the way. I do not agree with this thinking at all. I am discarding this kind of report," Chopra stated in a video on his YouTube channel.Nevertheless, Chopra acknowledged that Gambhir should be held accountable for the team's recent performance, given that the BCCI had granted all his requests, including the appointment of his own coaching staff."Whatever Gautam asked for, the BCCI gave him. Publicly, Gautam had said in the past that Team India should have Indian coaches but when he asked for Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel, the board agreed. When Gautam asked for senior players in Sri Lanka, the board said yes to it. Liberty was given in making pitches as well. When so much happens, then accountability is obvious," he added.India's tour of Australia will commence with the first Test in Perth on November 22. The team will be eager to redeem themselves after their disappointing home series against New Zealand.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is poised to witness a bidding frenzy for some of India's most sought-after cricketers. Among them, Rishabh Pant stands out as a potential record-breaker, according to former India cricketer Aakash Chopra.Pant, who was not retained by the Delhi Capitals, is expected to command a massive paycheck at the auction. Chopra believes that the wicket-keeper batter could surpass the current record of Rs 24.5 crore, set by Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2024 auction."Rishabh Pant could still become the most expensive player in the history of the IPL," Chopra said on his YouTube channel. "He could go even beyond Rs 25-26 crore."Pant's impressive performances in the T20 World Cup 2024 and Test cricket have solidified his status as one of India's most valuable players. Several teams, including the Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are expected to engage in a bidding war for his services."I can see three teams going absolutely hammer and tongs for him," Chopra predicted. "One has Rs 110 cr (PBKS), one has Rs 83 cr (RCB). They'll fight each other and a lot of money will be spent."While the Delhi Capitals have the third-highest auction purse, it is unlikely they will use their Right to Match (RTM) card on Pant. The franchise has already retained several key players, including David Warner and Prithvi Shaw.Pant's availability during the auction is uncertain as he is expected to be playing in the first Test between India and Australia, which clashes with the auction dates. However, his absence is unlikely to deter potential bidders.The IPL 2025 mega auction promises to be a thrilling event, with several other top players, including Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya, also set to go under the hammer. The auction will take place in Jeddah on November 24 and November 25.

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has sparked a debate over the treatment of Rinku Singh by Team India. Chopra has questioned the team's strategy of placing Rinku lower in the batting order, suggesting that he should be given the opportunity to bat at number four instead of number six.Chopra believes that Rinku has not been given the optimal platform to showcase his capabilities. "Are we being fair to Rinku? It's a very important question," Chopra said on his YouTube channel. "He was in your team against Bangladesh and before that as well. Whenever you have sent him up the order or he has got to bat in the powerplay, he has scored runs every time."Chopra emphasized that Rinku has consistently performed well when given more overs to bat. He highlighted that the left-hander has emerged as a reliable player for India in critical situations, scoring crucial runs at a commendable strike rate. "He has scored a half-century every time. He has emerged as a crisis man. He scored those half-centuries at very good strike rates," Chopra added.Rinku, having scored 490 runs at a strike rate of 173.14 in 20 T20I innings, remains a promising prospect for India. Chopra proposed that Tilak Varma could have been shifted to the number six position, allowing Rinku to bat at number four and affording him more time to settle in and make a significant contribution."I feel you could have played him at No. 4 in Durban. In fact, you could have done that in this entire series and moved Tilak Varma down because someone has to go at No. 6," he explained.While acknowledging Rinku's finishing abilities, Chopra pointed out that the 27-year-old doesn't fit the mold of a typical power-hitter like Andre Russell or Hardik Pandya. He believes that Rinku's batting style, which prioritizes timing over sheer power, would be more effective if he were given a higher batting position."I am asking this question only because Rinku can finish but he is not just a finisher. This is my understanding. I feel he knows how to drive the game. He is hitting sixes but he is not someone who muscles the ball. He is not Andre Russell and he is not Hardik Pandya as well," Chopra said.

India's opening batsman Abhishek Sharma has faced criticism for his recent performance in the first T20I against South Africa in Durban. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed concerns over Sharma's aggressive approach, which he believes may be hindering his performance at the international level.Sharma managed only seven runs off eight balls as India set a 203-run target for South Africa. India eventually won the game comfortably, bowling South Africa out for 141 to register a 61-run victory and take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.However, Chopra noted the stark contrast between Sharma's performance and that of his opening partner Sanju Samson, who scored a blistering 107 off 50 balls."It's a tale of two openers," Chopra said in a video posted on his YouTube channel. "There is Sanju (Samson), whose stars are shining bright, on one side. On the other side is Abhishek Sharma, whose stars have fallen."Sharma burst onto the scene with a sensational 100 off 47 balls in only his second T20I against Zimbabwe. However, his form has dipped since, with his highest score in seven other T20I innings being just 16.Chopra criticized Sharma's shot selection that led to his dismissal against Gerald Coetzee. "The shot he played in this match as well against Gerald Coetzee, it seems like he is a prisoner of his own reputation, that he would play like this only and is not going to wait."Chopra warned that continued underperformance could put Sharma's spot in the team at risk. "It's been one more failure. A time will come when it will be a problem. Questions will be asked about how long you will stick with him. Again, he will get three more games, but one by one the sand is being seen slipping from his hand," Chopra remarked.With three more games in the series, the pressure will be on the 24-year-old to deliver and justify his selection in the squad.

Rishabh Pant's remarkable comeback from a horrific car crash has once again cemented his status as one of India's most indispensable cricketers. After missing over a year of action, Pant returned to competitive cricket with the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2024, followed by a triumphant T20 World Cup victory with the national team.However, Pant's exclusion from the captaincy of India B in the Duleep Trophy raised questions about his leadership credentials. Despite his impressive performances in the subsequent Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, the decision to overlook him as captain left many cricket experts perplexed.Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has questioned the rationale behind this move, highlighting Pant's exceptional performances since his return. "When the Duleep Trophy teams were picked, Rishabh Pant was selected, but Abhimanyu Easwaran was the captain of that team. Pant featured as a player but not a captain in that tournament. We were left wondering if he is no longer a captaincy candidate," said Chopra.Chopra further praised Pant's resilience and dominance in Test cricket, emphasizing his ability to play with confidence and hit sixes while also possessing a solid defensive game. "He is the only one who can play with dominance, playing with so much confidence, he can hit sixes and has the defensive game," said Chopra.Pant's performances have led to renewed calls for him to be considered as a captaincy candidate. His ability to lead from the front and inspire his teammates has been evident in his recent performances. Whether or not he is given the captaincy in the future remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that Pant has once again proven his immense value to the Indian cricket team.

Rishabh Pant Poised to Shatter IPL Auction Records, Predicts Aakash ChopraFormer Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has predicted that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant could become the most expensive player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history at the upcoming 2025 mega auction. Chopra believes that Pant's exceptional form and high demand from multiple franchises could lead to a bidding war that surpasses the current record of Rs 20 crore.The BCCI has confirmed that the mega auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. Pant's recent performances, particularly in the Test series against New Zealand, have only enhanced his reputation as a match-winner.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, "The big thing is who all have kept themselves in the Rs 2 crore bracket. A lot of Indian players, including KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Pant could be the most expensive player in IPL history. He can go above 25-26 crores."Chopra highlighted that teams like Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are likely to be the most aggressive bidders for Pant. Punjab Kings have a massive Rs 110 crore purse, while RCB have Rs 83 crore at their disposal."I can see at least three teams going absolutely hammer and tongs. One (PBKS) has 110 crores and another (RCB) has 83 crores. I feel a lot of money will be spent when they fight amongst themselves," Chopra remarked.He also identified KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan as other key players likely to attract high bids at the auction.Pant's exceptional batting skills, wicketkeeping abilities, and leadership potential make him a highly sought-after player. His ability to play match-winning knocks and lead from the front has made him a valuable asset for any IPL franchise.If Pant does indeed become the most expensive player in IPL history, it will be a testament to his immense talent and the high regard in which he is held by IPL teams.

India's Test team has come under intense scrutiny following their disappointing loss to New Zealand in the recently concluded home series. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia looming, the team management has taken a bold decision to send star batters KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel to Australia early.The move has raised eyebrows, as it suggests a lack of confidence in the current batting lineup. Former India opener Aakash Chopra expressed his concerns, stating that the decision to send Rahul and Jurel early indicates "a lot of concern over India's batting."Chopra questioned the timing of the team selection, suggesting that it may have been premature to name the squad before the New Zealand series. He pointed out that Sai Sudharsan, who impressed in Australia with his batting, could have been included in the team.However, Chopra acknowledged that Rahul and Jurel have not had enough game time in India and that sending them to Australia could provide them with an opportunity to find form and score runs. He also expressed his preference for Rahul over Sarfaraz Khan, despite Khan's impressive century against New Zealand."If you ask me to choose between Rahul and Sarfaraz for the Australia tour, I will pick the former though the latter has scored 150 against New Zealand," Chopra said. "And even between Jurel and Sarfaraz, I might still be tempted with the former."India's tour of Australia will begin on November 22 with a five-match Test series. The team will be desperate to win at least four matches to qualify for the World Test Championship final next year. The early arrival of Rahul and Jurel is a sign of the team's determination to address their batting concerns and put up a strong challenge in Australia.

India's Sarfaraz Khan has cemented his place in the Test team after his impressive century in the first Test against New Zealand. Despite Shubman Gill's return from injury, the team management has opted to retain Sarfaraz, dropping out-of-form KL Rahul.Sarfaraz's 150 in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test, which India lost by eight wickets, has earned him praise from former India batter Aakash Chopra. Chopra believes Sarfaraz should be included in the squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia."In the squad, yes, in the playing XI, we don't know yet. You will need to carry enough, and it might be a larger squad anyways, it is a five-Test match series. First time in Australia, we are going to play five matches," Chopra said."Sarfaraz, whenever he has played, it is just not about the last Test match, what he did against England was also commendable, so there is no reason for us to even speculate that he won't be part of the touring squad, I think it is a given he will be there," he added.New Zealand, who won the first Test for their first Test victory in India since 1988, lead the three-match series 1-0. Spinners are expected to play a key role in the second Test in Pune.New Zealand have made one change, with left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner replacing fast bowler Matt Henry, who has a "glute niggle." India have made three changes, with Gill, fast bowler Akash Deep, and spinner Washington Sundar coming into the team.Rahul, pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav have been dropped.