Kane Williamson and David Miller ignored as Aakash Chopra predicts Gujarat Titans' retentions ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra wants the Gujarat Titans to consider retaining their senior paceman Mohammed Shami ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.

Mohammed Shami, who had finished as the 50-over Cricket World Cup's highest wicket-taker in 2023, had missed the entire 2024 IPL season due to injury. Shami had sustained a leg injury for which he had undergone major surgery whose recovery period is at least 6-7 months. For that reason, he wasn't picked in the Indian 15-man squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as well.

Mohammed Shami is also not expected to return to action before the end of August and if everything goes well, then he will stage his return by September. His absence proved to be a big blow for the Gujarat Titans, who eventually finished outside of the top four for the first time since their inclusion in the league back in 2022.

Aakash Chopra says Mohammed Shami is his choice

In his latest YouTube video, Aakash Chopra discussed the retention scenario of Gujarat Titans and which players they will keep in the team. Assuming that there will be four retentions, Chopra claimed that GT will go towards Mohammed Shami despite the bowler missing the entirety of last season.

Aakash Chopra believes the only thing going against Mohammed Shami is that he is aging and that he will be able to maintain his intensity levels last year. Another reason, Chopra discussed, was that GT had kept him in the team for 3 years and he wasn't even that expensive so why not retain Shami even if he gives returns for just two more years.

"I will think whether I can go towards Mohammed Shami. He missed this year because of injury but the only thing that goes against him is that he is not getting younger. It's a three-year retention, so will you want to retain him? He wasn't very expensive and it's enough even if he gives me two years. So Shami will be my choice," Aakash Chopra said in his latest YouTube video.

Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Rashid Khan the other retentions

Aakash Chopra then named GT captain Shubman Gill as the first retention that the franchise will make heading into the new season. Along with Shubman will be Tamil Nadu prospect Sai Sudharsan, who experienced another successful season with the bat. Chopra feels that Sudharsan has been very consistent for them and that he deserves to be retained.

Last but not the least is leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Despite a not-so-eventful IPL 2024 campaign, Aakash Chopra wants GT to retain Rashid Khan's services.

"Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan will be my first two retentions. I have to keep them and I feel this team will also want to keep them because Sai Sudharsan is consistent and this team is seeing their future around Shubman Gill, and that is why he was the captain as well this year. I will still want to retain Rashid Khan somehow, that if he stays, he could be my third retention," Aakash Chopra concluded.