IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra Doubts If Rajasthan Royals Would Go For Glenn Maxwell

Aakash Chopra has doubted if Rajasthan Royals would go for Australian Glenn Maxwell, who has been released by his previous franchise — Kings XI Punjab before the IPL 2021 auction. Royals will be looking for an overseas batsman after releasing their captain Steve Smith before the auction according to Aakash Chopra, it is unlikely that they will go for Maxwell in the auction this year. Sanju Samson has been named the new skipper of Royals.

Aakash Chopra felt that they need a sound player at no.5 apart from Miller who might not play all the matches which may affect the team’s combination. Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer pick themselves in the playing XI, and with the inexperienced Indian bowling, it is tough to fit Miller into the playing XI for all the matches.

Overseas Dominated Rajasthan Batting Lineup

Aakash Chopra also mentioned about Royals being dominated by the overseas batsman and the Indian players look very inexperienced in the team though being talented. He also opined that they would not bid for Maxwell and they will need a reliable batsman in the middle order at No. 5.

Royals have a lot of young talent in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Kartik Tyagi which might be a good option for their future too. But apart from Samson, they don’t have an Indian reliable batsman which will be a concern for them going forward.

“If I make their team, they have Yashasvi Jaiswal and Buttler as openers, Samson at No.3, Stokes at No.4, Riyan Parag/Manan Vohra at No.6. So, I need an overseas player at No.5. Tewatia comes at No.7 and then it looks alright,” told Aakash Chopra on his Youtube Channel.

“So their batting will remain a little overseas dominated. I doubt they will look towards Glenn Maxwell. This is not the team who will look towards Maxwell,” added Aakash Chopra.

Aakash Chopra Feels Royals Shouldn’t Have Let Rahane Go

Ajinkya Rahane was the only experienced Indian batsman in the Royals lineup until last year and he was traded to Delhi Capitals for the IPL 2020. Aakash felt that Royals would have benefited from Rahane if he stayed and they have let go of another Indian experienced player Robin Uthappa to CSK before the auction.

They need Indian batsmen in my opinion because they don’t want to play three overseas batsmen, which is not ideal any which way. I don’t know who that guy is, could be Gurkeerat Mann. Why did you let Rahane go? You should have kept him, he would been of use to you now,” concluded Aakash Chopra.

Royals would be regretting their move to release Rahane who had captained the Indian test team exceedingly well and he would have provided the much-needed experience into the team.