Cricket commentator Aakash Chopra has made a bold prediction, suggesting Rohit Sharma’s time with the Mumbai Indians might be over. In his analysis, Aakash Chopra highlights four key players MI should retain ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
Akash Chopra is a prominent name in Indian cricket, though not for his playing career these days. He began his journey as a cricketer, representing India in Test matches between 2003 and 2004. During his playing stint, he donned the jerseys of domestic teams like Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. He even had a shot at the IPL playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Primarily known for his right-handed batting, Chopra’s playing career wasn’t as extensive as some of his counterparts.
The upcoming IPL mega auction and the possibility of Rohit Sharma leaving Mumbai Indians (MI) have become major talking points in cricket. The IPL periodically holds a grand auction, where all teams can rebuild their squads by bidding on players released from existing contracts. The next mega auction is expected before the 2025 IPL season. Fueling speculation about Rohit Sharma’s departure from MI are several factors. Firstly, MI’s performance in IPL 2024 was dismal, with them finishing near the bottom of the table. Secondly, the captaincy change from Rohit to Hardik Pandya might have created tension with the management. Finally, rumours suggest Rohit’s unhappiness with how things unfolded at MI.
What Akash Chopra Said
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra expressed that Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma will not be among the players retained by the Mumbai Indians.
“I think they will let Ishan Kishan go. They might use the ‘Right to Match’ card because 15.5 crores is just too much money. I don’t think Ishan will be retained. I think Rohit Sharma has played his last match for the Mumbai Indians, whether he doesn’t want to be retained or the franchise lets him go,”
“Either way, I see them parting ways. I don’t think you will be seeing Rohit Sharma in the Mumbai Indians jersey again. That’s just my understanding. I might be wrong but I feel, either which way, Rohit Sharma will not be playing for the Mumbai Indians when you start the next season.”
In IPL 2024, Kishan managed to score 320 runs with a modest average of 22.86 and a strike rate of 148.83 across 14 innings. Despite being bought for an astounding 715.25 crore at the IPL 2022 auction, MI might choose not to retain him at the same price if they opt to release him.
Aakash Chopra’s Prediction On MI’s Retentions
Aakash Chopra believes that Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah will be the Mumbai Indians’ top two retentions. He said,
“I feel the first retention will be Suryakumar Yadav. I am not saying first or second but this team will 100% want to retain Suryakumar Yadav. The second player, I feel you want to 100% retain Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah might be the first retention and Suryakumar Yadav might be the second retention. These two players are absolutely confirmed,”
The cricketer-turned-commentator believes the five-time champions will aim to retain captain Hardik Pandya.
Chopra explained,
“The third, I would say Hardik Pandya. You need Hardik Pandya because it wasn’t a short-term investment. You had picked the player for long-term gain, and Hardik Pandya is an integral part of the blueprint you had made to take the team forward,”
In suggesting Tilak Varma as a potential fourth retention, Chopra hinted that Tim David could be reacquired through the ‘Right to Match’ card.
He elaborated,
“I feel the fourth should be Tilak Varma. All four are Indians thus far. I don’t think this team will want to or will be able to retain any overseas player. They might keep Tim David by using the ‘Right to Match’ card but I don’t see anyone in the overseas contingent seeing whom you would say that you will be at a massive loss if you let him go.”
Varma emerged as MI’s second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2024, amassing 416 runs at a strike rate of 149.64 in 13 innings, trailing only one run behind Rohit Sharma’s tally. David, on the other hand, accumulated 241 runs at a strike rate of 158.55 across 11 matches in the recently concluded season.