Cricket

Hardik Pandya's Resurgence: Aakash Chopra Lauds All-Rounder's Performance in India's T20I Series TriumphFormer Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has hailed Hardik Pandya's remarkable comeback in India's T20I series victory against Bangladesh. Pandya's stellar performances, both with bat and ball, played a pivotal role in India's 3-0 series sweep.In the third and final T20I in Hyderabad, Pandya was instrumental in India's record-breaking 133-run victory. He smashed a blistering 47 off just 18 deliveries, helping India post a mammoth 297/6. His aggressive batting display set the tone for India's dominant performance.Chopra, in his YouTube analysis, praised Pandya's resilience and determination. "Hardik Pandya was the Player of the Series," Chopra said. "He has seen the lows of lows in his personal and professional life, getting booed - everything has happened."Throughout the series, Pandya consistently delivered quick runs, maintaining a strike rate above 200 in most matches. His aggressive batting style, characterized by audacious shots and fearless strokeplay, left a lasting impression on Chopra."His batting in all three matches, he has played few balls but always with a strike rate above 200," Chopra remarked. "I thought he was absolutely sensational."In the series opener in Gwalior, Pandya scored an unbeaten 39 off 16 balls, while in Delhi, he followed up with 32 runs off 19 deliveries. Chopra highlighted Pandya's confidence and flair in his performances."His swag is different. It was like hooliganism," Chopra said. "He hit a six over cover and a no-look one-handed six on the leg side... He is batting differently."Chopra concluded by noting the rare nature of such confident batting, saying, "It was almost like insulting the bowlers, as though they don’t have any status at all."Pandya's resurgence has been a major boost for India's T20I team. His all-round abilities, coupled with his aggressive batting and leadership qualities, make him a valuable asset for the side.

Sanju Samson's inconsistent performances have sparked a debate about his treatment in the Indian national team. Despite his undeniable talent, Samson has struggled to cement his place in the side, leading to questions about whether he has been unfairly overlooked.In the recent T20I series against Bangladesh, Samson's struggles continued. He managed just 29 runs in the first match and failed to make an impact in the second. This lack of form has frustrated fans, who have taken to social media to express their disappointment.Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has emphasized the need for consistency from Samson. He warned that the Kerala batter could be dropped if he does not improve his performances. "He is good. He scored 29 runs. My only thing was that since he had reached here, he should go slightly further ahead. He should score a few more runs because, otherwise, they would drop him," Chopra said.Despite his recent struggles, Samson has shown glimpses of his brilliance. Chopra praised his elegant shot-making during the match in Gwalior. "You need to talk about Sanju Samson. Abhishek Sharma was playing amazingly well until he got run out, but how well did Sanju play? Gautam Gambhir said long back that if Sanju Samson doesn't play for India, it's India's loss. He was made to open. The silken touch was seen. He wasn't hitting the ball hard; it seemed like he didn't want to hurt the ball, and he was hitting one four after another."Samson made his international debut in 2015, but has yet to become a regular in the Indian team. He will need to step up his performance in the upcoming matches to prove that he deserves a permanent place in the side.

Sanju Samson, a fan favorite in Indian cricket, was given a rare opportunity to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma in the first T20I against Bangladesh. While Samson's 29 runs off 19 balls contributed to India's victory, former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra believes the wicket-keeper batter needs to step up his game.Chopra recalled a statement by Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has consistently praised Samson's abilities. However, Chopra emphasized that Samson must deliver on the field or risk being dropped from the team."Sanju Samson needs to do more," Chopra said. "He's a talented player, but he needs to convert his starts into big scores. Otherwise, he'll keep moving in and out of the side."Samson has played at various positions for India in T20Is, but top order remains his most effective position. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20Is, Samson has an opportunity to establish himself as a key player.Chopra believes that Samson has the potential to be a match-winner for India. "He's a very good player," Chopra said. "He has all the shots and he can play in any situation. But he needs to be more consistent."Samson's performance in the first T20I against Bangladesh was a step in the right direction, but he needs to continue to improve if he wants to cement his place in the Indian team.

Mayank Yadav, the young Indian pacer who set the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 ablaze with his blistering pace, made his much-anticipated India debut in the first T20I against Bangladesh on Sunday. While Yadav's debut was a memorable occasion, his pace was noticeably slower than his IPL exploits.In the IPL, Yadav famously bowled a delivery clocking 156.7 kmph, but against Bangladesh, his pace varied between 135 kmph and 150 kmph. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Yadav's slower pace may be attributed to several factors."Mayank Yadav bowled his first over as a maiden - Mayank 'Gatimaan' Yadav. He hadn't played cricket for four months. He was coming back after an injury. There were a few butterflies in his stomach. There was a little nervous energy as well," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.Chopra further explained that Yadav may have been prioritizing accuracy over pace in his debut match. "He wasn't trying to reach 150-160 kph because there was a little more focus on the body - 'Let's not push myself because I am coming back after an injury'. However, there is no doubt that this bowler has pace," said Chopra.Despite his slower pace, Yadav bagged his maiden international wicket in the match, marking his arrival on the big stage. However, Chopra believes that Yadav still needs some time to fully harness his exceptional skills."He bowled at a good pace and showed that he has got the ingredients. You are seeing the ingredients as of now with which an excellent dish can be prepared. However, that will take some time and the Indian team will give him time, that's what I feel," said Chopra.Yadav will be keen to build on his fine start to his international career and bag more wickets in the remainder of the series. With his raw pace and potential, he has the ability to become a key member of the Indian bowling attack in the future.

Delhi Capitals' Retention Strategy: Aakash Chopra Advises Prioritizing Pant and AxarFormer Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has urged the Delhi Capitals (DC) to prioritize the retention of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Axar Patel ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.Despite rumors of Pant's potential departure, Chopra confirmed that the star player will remain with the Delhi-based franchise. He emphasized Pant's importance as the team's first retention, allocating a budget of Rs 18 crore for his services.Chopra also highlighted Axar's consistent performances, citing his contributions as a bowler, batter, and fielder. He believes that retaining Axar will save the team significant funds in the auction, as his value would be high if he were available.For the third retention, Chopra identified a dilemma between Australian all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk and Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav. While he prefers an Indian player, he acknowledges the value of Fraser-McGurk and suggests using the Right To Match (RTM) card for one of them.Chopra further recommended retaining Abishek Porel as the uncapped player, securing him at a lower price of Rs 4 crore. This move would leave DC with two RTM cards after retaining three capped players and Porel.

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) face a dilemma as all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy's potential international debut could impact their retention strategy for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. Reddy has been called up to India's 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.If Reddy makes his debut, SRH will lose the option to retain him as an uncapped player, which would significantly increase his retention cost. Under IPL's latest retention rules, an uncapped player can be retained for Rs 4 crore, while a capped player would require a minimum retention fee of Rs 11 crore.Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes SRH would be hoping that Reddy does not make his debut, as it would allow them to retain him for a lower price. "They would be praying that Nitish Kumar Reddy remains uncapped. They would be saying - 'Please don't play him in the T20I series'," Chopra said.Chopra also suggested that SRH should prioritize the retentions of captain Pat Cummins and young India batter Abhishek Sharma. "They have to firstly retain the captain and Abhishek Sharma. You have to retain Heinrich Klaasen and it's great if you can get Travis Head," he added.SRH's retention strategy will be crucial in shaping their team for the upcoming IPL season. The franchise will need to balance the need to retain key players with the financial constraints imposed by the retention rules.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has outlined the retention rules for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. Franchises can retain a maximum of six players, with the Right-To-Match (RTM) option available. The retention costs are set at Rs 18 crore for the first priority, Rs 14 crore for the second, Rs 11 crore for the third, Rs 18 crore for the fourth, and Rs 14 crore for the fifth. Uncapped players can be retained for Rs 4 crore.Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has questioned whether Punjab Kings (PBKS) has any players worth retaining for Rs 18 crore. He believes that the franchise may release several English players, including Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, and Chris Woakes, due to the arrival of new coach Ricky Ponting.Chopra advises PBKS to release left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and use the RTM card to retain him at the auction. He believes that no Indian fast bowler, except for Jasprit Bumrah, is likely to fetch Rs 18 crore at the auction.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has released its guidelines for player retention, sparking discussions among experts on which players franchises should prioritize ahead of the mega auction. With six players allowed for retention, including Right-To-Match, tough decisions lie ahead for teams.For Mumbai Indians (MI), the future of former skipper Rohit Sharma is a major talking point. However, former India batter Aakash Chopra believes MI should also make a crucial call on current captain Hardik Pandya.While many expect Hardik to be MI's top retention, Chopra argues that Jasprit Bumrah should take that spot. He considers Bumrah the No. 1 pick across all IPL teams, making him the top priority for MI as well."The most difficult thing is to retain the Indian core. MI and CSK have won five trophies each, and both have had strong Indian cores. Overseas players can be replaced, but Indian players are harder to find. Can you tell me a like-for-like replacement for Jasprit Bumrah?" Chopra said.Regarding Hardik, Chopra suggests he could be MI's fourth pick. Suryakumar Yadav could be the second choice (in the INR 14 crore category), while Rohit, Tilak Varma, and Ishan Kishan would compete for the remaining spots."Indian retentions for Mumbai Indians seem straightforward. Hardik, Surya, Bumrah, you have three. After that, I think they will discuss with Rohit Sharma about the next step. It's anybody's guess after what has transpired. Whether he will stay in Mumbai or go elsewhere, I think it will also be his will. I think that will be a discussion. And then Ishan Kishan or Tilak Varma," he added."The interesting aspect will be the order of retention. Who will be the first, who will be the second and all that? Jasprit Bumrah is my No. 1 retention. He will be the first retention in the overall IPL, across all teams. If Bumrah is your first, then you have captain Hardik Pandya. He can be your fourth retention (Rs 18 crore). Then you have India's T20I captain, he is Suryakumar Yadav. He will be come in Rs 14 crore category. Then you have Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma. Then there is the wicketkeeper-batter batter in Ishan Kishan, whom you retained for Rs 15 or Rs 15.5 crore. It's going to be a tough one."Tim David and Piyush Chawla are also potential retention candidates for MI. While Chawla fits well in the uncapped player category, David's chances of being retained remain uncertain.

Team India's upcoming tour of Australia in 2024 for a five-match Test series has sparked concerns about the potential for targeted attacks on the team by opposition players and the local media. Former India batter Aakash Chopra has revealed disturbing incidents from India's previous tour in 2018/19, highlighting the tactics employed to tarnish the image of the visiting team.Chopra shared an incident involving Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, who had a heated exchange during a match. The Australian media, according to Chopra, amplified the stump mic audio and released inconclusive clips to the press, creating a negative narrative around the Indian team."They (Australian media) used to release videos. They did it in front of me when Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja had a heated exchange with each other while standing in the 30-yard circle. The broadcasters amped up the stump mic as they were abusing each other," Chopra said.Chopra also revealed that Ricky Ponting, who was in the commentary box, initially condemned the incident but later changed his stance on-air. "Ricky said they are 'Making a mountain out of a molehill'. The moment he went on air, he tore into the Indian team, and I was stunned that he had just said something else a few minutes back," Chopra added.These revelations raise concerns about the potential for similar tactics to be employed during the upcoming tour. India has enjoyed a dominant run in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, winning the last two series in Australia and becoming the only Asian team to win a Test series Down Under on multiple occasions.However, the Aussies are eager to regain their dominance and may resort to underhanded tactics to gain an advantage. The Indian team must be prepared for such challenges and maintain their focus on the game.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has always been a fiercely contested rivalry, but it is important to ensure that the competition remains fair and respectful. The Australian media and opposition players have a responsibility to uphold the spirit of the game and avoid engaging in tactics that could damage the reputation of the Indian team or the sport itself.