IPL 2025: Aakash Chopra predicts a make-or-break season for Mohammed Siraj amid Harshit Rana's rise
Published - 17 Mar 2025, 04:53 PM | Updated - 17 Mar 2025, 04:55 PM
Table of Contents
Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra believes that the upcoming Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) presents a crucial opportunity for the Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj to make his way back into India's white-ball setup.
Mohammed Siraj has fallen out of the Indian selectors’ radar in white-ball cricket as he was dropped from the T20I team last year, and then he was overlooked for the triumphant ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign in Dubai.
Aakash Chopra feels IPL 2025 is a big opportunity for Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar
Surprisingly, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) also released Siraj ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, but Gujarat Titans (GT) showed faith in the seasoned fast bowler by acquiring his services for INR 12.25 crore.
Gujarat Titans will be Siraj’s third franchise in the IPL after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Well, Chopra admitted that Siraj's recent form hasn't been ideal, but this IPL season will be a perfect platform for him to prove himself and regain his place in the Indian cricket team.
The commentator has also emphasized that Siraj must deliver match-winning performances for Gujarat Titans to put himself back on the radar, as he hasn’t been a part of India’s white-ball discussions lately with Harshit Rana getting all the attention.
Aakash Chopra hopes Mohammed Siraj to prove his critics wrong
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “Mohammed Siraj, it's a huge opportunity for Miyan Magic because he has been left out in white-ball cricket. He wasn't there in the Champions Trophy squad. Why wasn't he there? No one is taking his name for T20s. Bengaluru also let him go. Mohammed Siraj has a great opportunity to make it back to the Indian team on the back of a fantastic IPL.”
Meanwhile, the cricket pundit has also expressed his surprise at Washington Sundar's declining opportunities, saying he is the ICC trophy winner without playing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
He added, “Sundar's stock has gone so low. I don't know why. He was there in the Champions Trophy recently but didn't play a single match. He is an ICC trophy winner without playing a single match. He was with Hyderabad. He didn't use to get an opportunity there either.”
Aakash Chopra backs Washington Sundar to shine for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025
Chopra mentioned how GT got Sundar at a bargain price of INR 3.20 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He believes that the Indian spin all-rounder is underrated but can be a valuable all-rounder for GT, offering powerplay bowling and flexibility in the batting order.
He signed off by saying, “Here also he has been sold cheap. So, he is slightly underrated. People are not giving him that much importance, but he is a decent player in my opinion. He might not be a very good finisher, but he can bowl in the powerplay and bat at the start. So, he could be that umbrella-man kind of a player. It's a massive opportunity for Washington Sundar.”
Notably, Gujarat Titans will face Punjab Kings in their first game in the upcoming IPL 2025 on March 25 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
