IPL 2025: Aakash Chopra fires LSG huge warning: 'If KL Rahul goes to auction...'

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has issued a huge warning to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the mega auction of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently released the complete details for the IPL 2025 mega auction. According to the rules, the franchises can retain a total of 6 players either via direct retention or by using the Right to Match (RTM) option. The teams have been given a deadline of October 31 to submit the list of retained players before the auction.

It will be interesting to see which players the Lucknow Super Giants will retain, as there have been reports of the franchise parting ways with skipper KL Rahul. Notably, KL Rahul was picked by Lucknow Super Giants at the drafts before the IPL 2022 mega auction. Other than Rahul, LSG picked Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi.

Lucknow Super Giants did well in the first two seasons, reaching playoffs, but their third year was quite poor. Captain KL Rahul particularly came under pressure and was even bashed on the field by team owner Sanjiv Goenka after the loss to SRH.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that KL Rahul should be LSG's first retention because if he goes to the auction, he would trigger a bidding war and would be sold for over INR 18 Crore.

Aakash Chopra added that the express pacer Mayank Yadav could have been one of the retentions of LSG as an uncapped player for INR 4 Crore, but it won't happen as the right-arm quick is likely to get his India cap in the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh National Cricket Team. Aakash Chopra elaborated:

"They have three players whom they can retain. The fourth could have been as an uncapped Indian because he would not remain uncapped as he will get the India cap before 31st October. I am talking about Mayank Yadav. They would have definitely wanted to retain him but if he gets the India cap, there is no advantage of retaining him. Then you can use the Right To Match card.

"The first is KL Rahul because you want to make him the captain and he is the face of the franchise. You won't get him for 18 crores in any case. If KL Rahul goes to the auction, he will take 18 crores for sure, and you don't leave the captain in any case. The captain needs to remain for continuity, love and relationship."

Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis To Complete LSG's Retention List: Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator further picked Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis as the second and third retention of the Lucknow Super Giants.

Aakash Chopra opined that Nicholas Pooran deserves to be retained based on the performances he has delivered in T20 cricket and he labelled Marcus Stoinis as a game-changer. The former cricketer Aakash Chopra elaborated:

"At No. 2, I would say Nicholas Pooran, who they gave 16 crores last time as well, and he is a player of that worth. The sort of performances he has given in T20 cricket, don't even think about it, you have to retain him. He is that good a player.

"For the third also, I am not thinking about an Indian. I am not thinking about Devdutt Padikkal or even Ravi Bishnoi because a spinner won't go till 11 crores. I am not thinking about Krunal Pandya. He is good, his skill style is limited in availability, but still I would say no. 11 crores will be too much for Krunal Pandya.

"The third I am thinking of is Marcus Stoinis because they had retained him for 10 crores earlier as well and he is that game-changer kind of a player. I can only think of three, plus Mayank Yadav if he remains uncapped," Aakash Chopra added.