IPL Auction 2025: 'Going to be a father' - KL Rahul picked over Rishabh Pant as MS Dhoni’s CSK successor

Former India National Cricket Team player Aakash Chopra claimed that KL Rahul would be the perfect successor for MS Dhoni at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He said that the keeper-batter fits all the criteria and will be the right fit for the team.

India National Cricket Team batter Rahul will be going under the hammer in the IPL auction 2025. This comes after the batter parted ways with Lucknow Super Giants as he didn't want to continue with the team, especially with him having issues with the franchise owners.

KL Rahul has set himself a base price of INR 2 crore

Rahul has set himself a base price of INR 2 crore, and with the kind of impact he has made in the league, he no doubt will be attracting a lot of bidders. Some teams need a captain, and hence, he automatically becomes a big target in the auction.

There will be hardly any team that won't need the services of Rahul, as he has been one of the best batters in the IPL for the last few years. Opening the innings, he has been amassing truckloads of runs for the teams that he has played for and has led the team well.

Rahul captained Punjab Kings for two seasons before moving to Lucknow Super Giants. Under his leadership, the team made playoffs in two seasons before ending in the bottom half of the table in the last edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

He is right for Chennai, that's KL Rahul - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra, while talking about Chennai Super Kings, said that the franchise needs a replacement for MS Dhoni, and Rahul will be the perfect candidate for that. While stressing the possibility of the same in the video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:

"What all do they need? I feel they need a successor to Dhoni, a wicketkeeper-batter and it's great if they get an Indian. Everyone is saying, let me also say - he is more than 30 years old, is going to be a father very soon and everyone has written him off as well, so he is right for Chennai, that's KL Rahul. So they will go for KL Rahul."

They will try to acquire him because the franchise still has ₹55 crore to be spent - Aakash Chopra on KL Rahul going into CSK

Aakash Chopra pointed out that with a purse of ₹55 crore, CSK would be looking to acquire Rahul. While talking about other possible options, he explained:

"We can't say for how long they will go but they will try to acquire him because the franchise still has ₹55 crore to be spent. So if they can get an Indian like him, Ishan Kishan or Rishabh Pant for ₹10-15 crore, they are going to try. They might think about Shreyas Iyer for some time because they will need Indian batters to bat in those conditions."

Aakash Chopra added that CSK should also target Ravichandran Ashwin in the auction to strengthen their spin department. He added:

"CSK has struggled with spin options apart from Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin, who is also associated with CSK's academy, could bring balance to their attack in what might be his final IPL cycle."

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