Aakash Chopra exposes Deccan Chargers’ unfair treatment of VVS Laxman; recalls brutal KKR decisions

In a stunning revelation, former Indian batter Aakash Chopra has opened up about one of the most unfair episodes in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. Chopra stunned one and all by claiming that the now-defunct Deccan Chargers did not give VVS Laxman the respect he deserved during his stint with the franchise in the IPL.

VVS Laxman had been appointed captain of the Deccan Chargers in the very first IPL season in 2008. But after the side finished at the bottom of the points table, the Deccan team management removed the legendary batter from the captaincy and handed the leadership to the legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist for the 2009 edition.

Aakash Chopra reveals how the Deccan Chargers unfairly treated VVS Laxman in IPL 2008

Chopra has pointed out that the way Laxman was sacked as the Deccan Chargers captain showed how poorly the Indian legend was handled by the franchise at that time.

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Aakash Chopra said on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast on his YouTube channel, “I feel VVS Laxman was not treated well by Deccan Chargers. That decision did not become famous because Laxman has not become as famous as he deserves to be.”

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The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter also discussed several tough calls in IPL history that shocked players and fans. The cricket pandit felt that removing Sourav Ganguly as KKR captain was one of the boldest steps taken in the IPL's history.

Chopra noted, “I think the most brutal call was KKR removing Ganguly from captaincy. That was a sign of how things were going to be. KKR and Shreyas Iyer would have been a tough call too. Removing Rohit from captaincy would have been a very tough thing to do, to go tell him about it.”

Aakash Chopra reveals how he and Sanjay Bangar were treated by KKR

He also shared a personal story from his time with the KKR in 2009. He and Sanjay Bangar were part of the squad but were asked to return home midway through the season. Speaking on the sudden decision, Chopra said, “They felt these two were not needed.”

The former Indian opener believes that many other cricketers must have faced similar situations that were never made public. Notably, Chopra played only two games in the IPL 2009 for the KRR, and then he never got the chance to play in the league.

He also recalled how Chris Gayle’s fallout with Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) became known only because the West Indies legend spoke about it openly. And Chopra said, “Such things would have happened with so many players, and you won't even know about it.”

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Aakash Chopra breaks silence on ban for CSK and RR over the betting scandal

The cricket pundit also shared his views on the suspension of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) from the IPL for two years. The Supreme Court–appointed panel led by former Chief Justice RM Lodha had taken that call after CSK’s Gurunath Meiyappan and RR’s Raj Kundra were found involved in betting during the 2013 season.

Both Meiyappan and Kundra received a lifetime ban for their role in the spot-fixing scandal, which significantly damaged IPL’s reputation. Chopra said that removing two champion teams from the IPL for two years was a tough step, but he believed it was the correct decision for the fairness of the tournament.

He signed off by saying, “Morally, banning the two teams for two years was also the right call. It would have been very difficult to ban champion teams from the tournament. But it was the right call, although very difficult.”