As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is working to finalise confirming the trading window and the IPL 2025 mega auction, one of the biggest questions for many Indian Premier League (IPL) fans is “Will Rohit Sharma continue his journey with the Mumbai Indians?” 

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is one of the greatest batters in the modern generation. The right-handed batter is the third-leading run-scorer in the IPL history with 6628 runs in 257 IPL matches. 

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Rohit Sharma is a legend for the Mumbai Indians

After joining the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2011, Rohit has played an important role in his team’s extraordinary successes. With 5731 runs in 221 matches, Rohit is the leading run-scorer of the Mumbai Indians. 

Mumbai Indians have recorded five IPL trophies and two now-defunct Champions League T20 trophies. Except for their first trophy (CLT20 2011), which was led by the former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, MI won all their next six trophies under the leadership of Rohit.

However, before the IPL 2024, MI team management decided to start a new era with the new captain, Hardik Pandya, who just rejoined the team. MI fans didn’t take that change well, while MI finished in the last position among the ten participants at the IPL 2024. However, Rohit was their leading run-scorer in that IPL season, finishing with 417 runs in 14 matches with an average of 32.07 and a strike rate of 150.00, including one century and one half-century. 

Although there are some reports of internal rift on the new captaincy appointment, we are now also hearing about Rohit’s possible departure from the MI ahead of the IPL 2025. 

I feel Rohit Sharma will not stay: Aakash Chopra

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that Rohit will not play for the Mumbai Indians anymore. He also feels that Rohit’s IPL 2025 team future will be decided during the pre-auction trading window. 

On his YouTube channel, Chopra said, "Will he stay or will he go? It's a big question. Personally, I feel he will not stay. Whoever is retained will be with the thinking that he will remain with you for three years, unless your name is MS Dhoni. MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings' story is very different but Rohit Sharma at MI, I feel he might himself leave or MI might leave him."

Chopra added, "Anything can happen but I don't think Rohit is going to be retained here. I don't have any information but I feel Rohit will probably be released. He might go to someone in the trade window, that's a possibility that he doesn't go to the auction, but if that doesn't happen, he might be seen in the auction. I feel his journey with the Mumbai Indians is over.”

I don't think Suryakumar Yadav will be traded: Aakash Chopra

There are also rumours of Suryakumar Yadav’s departure from the Mumbai Indians ahead of the IPL 2025. However, Chopra feels that the present Indian T20I captain will stay in MI. 

Chopra commented "What are you asking? I don't think Suryakumar Yadav will be traded. I haven't heard anything like that. The Mumbai Indians won't leave Suryakumar Yadav and I feel Surya also won't leave either. Surya will be there. He is not going anywhere. Na, I don't think so. Surya will remain with the team. I don't know where you have read that.

Cricket expert Aakash Chopra has identified three SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) batters to keep an eye on in their upcoming IPL 2024 match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The game is set to take place at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday, April 15. With three wins out of their first five matches, a victory against RCB would help SRH join two other teams with eight points.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra mentioned that he wouldn’t focus on any SRH bowlers in particular. Instead, he highlighted the team’s openers, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, as two players worth watching.

Chopra shares his opinion

“Let’s start with Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek Sharma has the might. He is a good player, is in excellent form and his bat is striking the ball very well. He has already won two Player of the Match awards this year. So he is a player you will have to be wary of. I am not picking even one Hyderabad bowler,” he stated.

“I am saying my second player will be Travis Head. Based on whatever we have seen, and Faf (du Plessis) has also said the same, the first six overs prove very costly for them (RCB). So if Hyderabad have to win and build proper pressure, it takes time to beat someone with force, but if you hit them mentally, the job becomes easy,” the former India opener added.

Abhishek Sharma, a young Indian talent, has been in impressive form, scoring 177 runs at a striking rate of 208.23 in five innings. Meanwhile, Australian opener Travis Head has contributed 133 runs in four games, showcasing a striking rate of 172.72.

“When they (RCB) don’t pick up a wicket and 60-70 runs are scored in the first six overs, Bengaluru concede half the match in their mind, that what will happen to them and nothing can be done. Travis Head will like this ground. Since his fifty in the first match, sparks have been seen but the proper fire hasn’t been lit, and it might get lit in this match,” he elaborated.

Chopra says for Heinrich Klaasen, “His hands might be itching…”

“The third player is Heinrich Klaasen. He didn’t get many chances to do anything in the last two matches. His hands might be itching, that he will hit now. He hits a lot in any case. He doesn’t need a reason to hit,” he said (9:05).

“If the opposing bowling is not that good, the pitch is good and the ground is small, he might hit the ball to Cubbon Park, this batter definitely has that much power,” the renowned commentator added.

See Also: Injury issues loom for Australian duo ahead of T20 World Cup

Another SRH player to watch out for is Heinrich Klaasen, who has been a powerhouse with the bat in IPL 2024. With a total of 186 runs and 17 sixes to his name, Klaasen boasts an impressive striking rate of 193.75 in five innings. Only Nicholas Pooran and Riyan Parag have hit more sixes than him in this year’s IPL.

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra is betting on Rachin Ravindra to shine brightly in the upcoming IPL 2024 season with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). With the tournament set to kick off on March 22 at the Chepauk Stadium, all eyes are on Ravindra as a potential game-changer for CSK.

CSK faced a significant setback with the injury sidelining New Zealand opener Devon Conway, who was their leading run-scorer in IPL 2023. Conway’s absence leaves big shoes to fill, but Chopra believes Ravindra could step up admirably. Conway’s exceptional form saw him rack up 672 runs in 16 matches last season, making him a vital cog in CSK’s lineup.

Akash Chopra said for the incident

“I still feel this team will be fine because they do something and find someone. Here they had already kept an amazing player in the form of Rachin Ravindra as his (Conway’s) backup. He had a very good World Cup and he scored runs in Tests also recently. He is in the form of his life.” 

“However, let’s be fair, his T20 numbers are not good. T20 numbers not being good and playing for CSK is a good thing. So you might see Rachin Ravindra’s T20 avatar now. Left-handed opener and left-arm spin, he has all the ingredients to become the most valuable player.” 

During a discussion on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed confidence in Ravindra’s ability to make an impact despite his relatively modest T20 statistics. While Ravindra’s T20I record might not be stellar, having scored 214 runs in 20 matches for New Zealand, his stint with CSK could unveil a different facet of his game.

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CSK secured Ravindra’s services for INR 1.80 crore during the IPL 2024 mini-auction

Despite not boasting remarkable T20 numbers, Ravindra’s inclusion signifies CSK’s belief in his potential to deliver under pressure and in high-stakes situations. The defending champions, CSK, will be eyeing another successful campaign after clinching their fifth IPL title in the previous season. Led by the legendary MS Dhoni, the team will be keen to surpass the Mumbai Indians and establish themselves as the most successful franchise in IPL history.

With Ravindra’s arrival and the seasoned expertise of players like Dhoni, CSK fans have reasons to be optimistic about their team’s chances in IPL 2024. As they gear up to face Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening match, the spotlight will be on Ravindra to prove himself as a worthy successor to Conway and a potential MVP for CSK this season.

In the unpredictable world of cricket, Ravindra’s journey with CSK promises to be an intriguing storyline, one that could define the team’s fortunes in IPL 2024. As fans eagerly await the action-packed tournament, all eyes will be on Ravindra to see if he can live up to the expectations and emerge as a star for CSK on the grand stage of the IPL.

Aakash Chopra, the former India and Kolkata Knight Riders batsman, asserts that his ex-IPL team boasts the premier spin bowling attack in IPL 2024. This declaration came during his recent YouTube analysis where he scrutinized the spin arsenals of all ten franchises. Chopra highlighted the potency of Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Suyash Sharma, forecasting their impact for the two-time champions.

Furthermore, in the video, Chopra urged the KKR management to ensure the production of slow-spinning tracks to complement their spin trio. He emphasized that whenever he ponders the team with the finest spin attack, his thoughts gravitate towards the Shreyas Iyer-led squad. Despite finishing outside the top four in the last two editions – securing 7th place in both 2022 and 2023 – Chopra remains confident in KKR’s spin prowess.

Aakash Chopra praises Sunil Narine for his impressive economy rate and also commends the performances of Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma

The 46-year-old seasoned analyst praised the effectiveness of KKR’s spinners, meticulously highlighting each of their strengths. Chopra initially lauded Sunil Narine, emphasizing his remarkable economy rate of 6.73 since his debut in 2012, despite not being a consistent wicket-taker.

Moving on, Chopra shed light on Varun Chakravarthy’s evolution from a mystery spinner, akin to Narine, underscoring his exceptional performance in IPL 2023 where he secured 20 wickets following a lackluster 2022 season.

Regarding Suyash Sharma, who debuted in the IPL last year and claimed 10 wickets, Chopra expressed confidence in KKR’s frontline spinners for the upcoming season.

“When I contemplate spin, my thoughts instinctively turn to Kolkata. Their strategy will likely revolve around creating spin-friendly pitches. With Sunil Narine as a permanent fixture in the XI, although not a prolific wicket-taker, his consistent economy is invaluable,” Chopra stated in his recent YouTube video.

He further added, “Furthermore, they boast an exceptional talent in Varun Chakaravarthy, whose stature skyrocketed last year with stellar performances. Additionally, Suyash Sharma adds depth to their spin arsenal. These three frontline spinners are certain to feature in the XI.”

Aside from Narine, Chakravarthy, and Suyash, KKR has bolstered their spin department in the IPL 2024 squad with the addition of Afghanistan leg-spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, secured for 2 crores, and uncapped local off-spinner Angkrish Raghuvanshi, acquired at a base price of 20 Lakhs. Their pace bowling unit received a significant boost with the acquisition of Mitchell Starc for a record INR 24.75 crores.

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Here is the complete squad of the Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2024

KKR Squad for IPL 2024: Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shreyas Iyer (c), Jason Roy, Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, KS Bharat, Chetan Sakariya, Mitchell Starc, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gus Atkinson, Sakib Hussain.

The two-time champions will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens on March 23rd, followed by away matches against Bangalore and Delhi.

Aakash Chopra voiced doubts about Devdutt Padikkal’s effectiveness as an opener for the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024. He suggested the potential inclusion of Quinton de Kock or Kyle Mayers as alternatives to partner with Padikkal. KL Rahul, the skipper of the Lucknow Super Giants, is expected to bat in the middle order in the forthcoming season. The franchise from Lucknow secured Padikkal from the Rajasthan Royals through a trade, relinquishing young pacer Avesh Khan to the Jaipur-based franchise.

Aakash Chopra Highlights Devdutt Padikkal’s Excellent Form

In a YouTube video he shared, Aakash Chopra deliberated on potential opening combinations for the Lucknow team in IPL 2024. While discussing Devdutt Padikkal’s inclusion in the absence of KL Rahul, Chopra expressed uncertainty regarding Padikkal’s performance.

“If KL Rahul had been opening, I would have considered Lucknow to have a very stable opening pair because you’d definitely expect 500 runs from there. However, with him not opening now, it’s uncertain. Quinton de Kock or Kyle Mayers, as they showed interest in playing Mayers last year,” Chopra remarked.

“If De Kock doesn’t open, Mayers is inconsistent, and alongside him will be Devdutt Padikkal, a new player in this slot after some time. He’s in great form, but it’s unclear which direction his performance will take,” he added.

Devdutt Padikkal commenced his IPL journey as an opener for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). However, with the Rajasthan Royals, he did not feature as an opener, as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler took charge at the top of the order in the lucrative league.

The cricketer hailing from Karnataka amassed 261 runs in 11 innings last season, averaging 26.10 with a strike rate of 130.50. Across his IPL career, the left-handed batsman has accumulated 1521 runs in 57 matches, holding an average of 27.65 and a strike rate of 125.39, with a highest score of 101.

Aakash Chopra Suggests Pat Cummins as Possible Captain

The former cricketer turned commentator highlighted a potential selection dilemma for the SunRisers Hyderabad regarding their opening partnership. He mentioned the options of Abhishek Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, and Travis Head.

“In Hyderabad, there could be a dilemma regarding the opening pair. Abhishek Sharma performed well last season, and Mayank Agarwal showed promise before departing. It’s uncertain if they will be chosen to open this year. Travis Head might also open, especially if Pat Cummins assumes the captaincy,” Chopra stated.

SEE ALSO:Sunil Gavaskar Provides Clarity on Dhruv Jurel Comment: ‘MS Dhoni Stands Alone’

Both Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma encountered challenges in their performances for SunRisers Hyderabad last season. Agarwal scored 270 runs in 10 innings at an average of 27.00, while Sharma managed 226 runs in 11 matches with an average of 20.55.

Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra said Rohit Sharma wasn’t pointing at any particular players when he said that only those who have the hunger for Test cricket will be given opportunities in the longer format.

Notably, India beat England by five wickets in the fourth Test in Ranchi on Monday and took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match Test series as well. In the post-match press conference, Rohit Sharma said that the hunger required to succeed and excel in the Test as well.

Aakash Chopra backs Rohit Sharma

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said: “Rohit Sharma has said that this is the toughest format and if you have to succeed in that, you need a lot of discipline and dedication. He also said that it’s evident if someone does not have that hunger, but he was not hinting at anyone. If you hear his entire bite until the end, he also said that there is no one within the playing group or outside who is saying that they don’t want to play. So he was not taking potshots at anyone.”

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However, Aakash Chopra also added that what Rohit Sharma said was 110 percent correct. He added that Indian cricket is in a fairly decent space as they have a lot of committed senior and junior players. On the other hand, England’s batting was poor in their second innings of the Ranchi Test. Aakash Chopra also questioned the English media for attributing everything to Bazball as well.

“The middle order is a disorder” – Aakash Chopra

“Stokes is saying that no one had given them a chance and that they did a great job reaching here. Someone also said that adapting to the situation is Bazball’s theory. Is everything Bazball? I am not saying the team is saying that but the English media becomes overactive,” he stated.

“I would say have a little realization that you had many opportunities to be at par or go ahead in this series. Your middle order doesn’t turn up at all. The middle order is a disorder. If they do an honest assessment, they will find that the middle-order batters’ performance has been extremely ordinary,” Aakash Chopra concluded.

Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra feels experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s unavailability for the second Test against England is a massive blow to India as Washington Sundar doesn’t bring the same all-round qualities as well. Meanwhile, India faced a 28-run loss in the first Test in Hyderabad. They will play against the visitors in the second game of the five-match series in Visakhapatnam from Friday, February 2. And, Jadeja has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “You are going to miss both Jadeja the batter and Jadeja the bowler. Jaddu is this team’s life. There is no doubt that he is the World No. 1 Test all-rounder. You got such a big first-innings lead because of Ravindra Jadeja. He also picks up a minimum of two to three wickets and is a gun fielder. When Jaddu is not there, you feel you should pick a bowler who can bat as well. So you start thinking about Washington Sundar. He will give control but won’t be able to give wickets. He might give as much batting, he is a very good batter, but he is not Jaddu.”

SEE ALSO: “I am seeing Rishabh Pant there” – Ravichandran Ashwin applauds Yashasvi Jaiswal

Meanwhile, Washington Sundar played three Tests in England’s last tour of India. Although he scored 181 runs in four innings which came at an average of 90.50, he could manage to scalp only two wickets at an underwhelming average of 65.00 as well. And, Aakash Chopra said that Kuldeep Yadav is a more enticing option as an attacking spinner as well.

“Playing two off-spinners becomes a question if the pitch is not an extreme turner. So you would want to play Kuldeep because you have to do something different to stop the reverse sweeps and switch sweeps. Kuldeep Yadav can do that because they (England) might fall into the trap if they don’t read him from the hand,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Multiple problems arise because of Jadeja’s absence. Of course, Bharat’s batting has given a little confidence. So he can bat slightly up the order but whom should they play down the order? If you want wickets – Kuldeep Yadav, if you want batting – Washington Sundar.”

Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned the Cape Town pitch as 23 wickets fell on the very first day of the game. South Africa were bowled out for 55 after they opted to bat first in the second Test against India on Wednesday, January 3. India were then bowled out for 153 before the Proteas ended Day 1 at 62/3 in their second innings as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra questioned: “23 wickets fell in a day. South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first, but what sort of decision? India too wanted to bat first but they (South Africa) couldn’t score even 60 runs in the first innings and they are still behind. South Africa have lost 13 wickets and we also lost 10. Is the pitch bad? Should we talk about the pitch because no one does that? There is an outcry if the ball turns in India and 20 wickets fall in a day. The Western media says that India keep winning on doctored pitches but if the same thing happens in South Africa, will anyone say anything or will they be tight-lipped?”

SEE ALSO: “My strength is to land the ball in the right areas for a long period of time” – Mohammed Siraj

However, 23 wickets that fell in Cape Town are the second most on the first day of a Test match as well. It also equalled the venue record for the most wickets on a single day whereas the previous one was on Day 2 of the 2011 Test between South Africa and Australia. Aakash Chopra also compared the Cape Town pitch to the Ahmedabad surface used for the 2021 pink-ball Test between India and England as well.

“The pitch has a lot of help. If the ball is turning as much as you are trying to get it to turn, it’s alright. However, if you are bowling straight balls and they pitch and turn, and some go straight, as it happened in the pink-ball Test in Ahmedabad, suddenly batting becomes very difficult,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Then luck becomes very important. The pitch here is also looking similar. Luck is outshining skill. It’s not right to play on such pitches. The game should be based on skills and not luck-based. I see it as a two-day Test match. I will be very surprised if this match goes to the third day.”

Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra said that the Rajasthan Royals (RR) bought Avesh Khan ahead of the IPL 2024 auction to resolve their death-bowling issues as well. The Royals traded in Avesh and gave Devdutt Padikkal in return to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) before the auction as well. They spent ₹14.30 crore to buy five more players at the auction as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “They had released Devdutt Padikkal and got Avesh Khan in place of him. So they tried to cover the fast-bowling problem at the death. They now have Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult and Avesh Khan. Yuzi (Yuzvendra) Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin and Adam Zampa – so their bowling resources are totally ready. Jason Holder wasn’t able to do that job and Obed McCoy also couldn’t do it.”

However, Jason Holder picked up only four wickets and had a poor economy rate of 9.96 in the eight matches he played for RR in IPL 2023. Obed McCoy also went wicketless and gave away 13 runs in the only over he bowled last season. However, Aakash Chopra believes Nandre Burger is another good seam-bowling acquisition for the Rajasthan Royals as well.

SEE ALSO: Harbhajan Singh names the best Indian batter in Test cricket

However, the Royals bought Burger for his base price of ₹50 lakh at the IPL 2024 auction. Meanwhile, they bought Rovman Powell for ₹7.40 crore and Shubham Dubey for ₹5.80 crore as well alongside Tom Kohler-Cadmore (₹40 lakh) and Abid Mushtaq (₹20 lakh).

“On a given day, they can play Nandre Burger in place of Trent Boult if they want. I like Nandre Burger as a bowler. He bowls at a speed of 145-146 kph. He is a good bowler. They have taken Nandre Burger and two or three good Indian players,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Overall, they went with a small purse to the auction. I feel Rajasthan had a good auction. They didn’t need too many things. They came away with first-choice players. At times, you aren’t able to get your first-choice players. Gujarat (Titans) is an example. Their (RR’s) auction strategy was quite robust.”

Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has shared that Ravi Bishnoi might not get to play in the first T20I against South Africa. However, India will play against the Proteas in three T20Is, with the first game taking place in Durban on Sunday as well. Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are the four spinners in the 17-member T20I squad as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Who was the Player of the Series in the last series – Ravi Bishnoi. You might not be able to play Ravi Bishnoi here. If you play Ravi Bishnoi, you will drop Kuldeep Yadav. You have created a huge dilemma for the team. You won’t be able to play the Player of the Series of the last series at all. If you play him (Bishnoi), you will feel how can you make Kuldeep sit out. There is no justice. After that, since Siraj is back, Siraj, Arshdeep and Mukesh is what I am thinking.”

See also: AB de Villiers backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play in T20 World Cup 2024

Aakash Chopra again shared that he isn’t sure about Deepak Chahar’s availability as well. He, however, missed the last T20I against Australia, and there are questions over whether he has reached the country for the series as his father is recovering from a stroke now. The veteran has also added that India’s potential top six might not have a player who can bowl well.

“Axar (Patel) had a very good series (vs Australia) but he isn’t part of the team. Here Ravindra Jadeja is part of the team and as a vice-captain. Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7 and I know what you are thinking, that no one bowls in the top six,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “What are we doing? We are not playing the one or two guys who do that. Washi (Washington Sundar) and Shivam Dube can be there in that but they are not going to bat in the top six.”