Former India opener Aakash Chopra said that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) could sign West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope in the IPL 2027 auction. Chopra believes Hope could strengthen their top order, depending on their squad changes ahead of the upcoming season.
Hope has impressed during the ongoing white-ball series against India, scoring two centuries in three ODIs. He has continued his form in the five-match T20I series, registering a century and a half-century in the first two matches. His performances have strengthened his case for another IPL opportunity.
Aakash Chopra Names Lucknow Super Giants as Potential Destination for Shai Hope
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra identified Lucknow Super Giants as a possible destination for Shai Hope. He believes Hope could fit into the franchise's top order if Nicholas Pooran leaves ahead of IPL 2027.
"He was with DC and used to get a chance to bat in the middle order. That is not his ideal number. I see him as an opener. Which franchise needs a keeper-opener? Since the Lucknow Super Giants have let Rishabh Pant go, and if Nicholas Pooran also leaves, say you want to trade Hardik Pandya, the Lucknow Super Giants could be a team," Chopra said.
"He can keep, bat, and might get a chance to bat at the top of the order because they haven't made (Aiden) Markram open consistently. So if Shai Hope can be seen at No. 3, or if Shai Hope opens and Markram comes at No. 3, if they try to make a setup like that, I see that as one place," he added.
Gujarat Titans Could Also Target Shai Hope in IPL 2027 Auction
Aakash Chopra named Gujarat Titans as another franchise that could consider signing Shai Hope. He suggested that GT might look at the West Indies wicketkeeper-batter if they decide to release England's Tom Banton before the auction.
"Who apart from them? Then the Gujarat Titans came to mind. If the Gujarat Titans let Tom Banton go and bring in Shai Hope, Jos Buttler plays at No. 3, and he will become a No. 3 option. He might not get a place in the XI, but that is the second franchise I can think of that might have Shai Hope in mind," Chopra observed.
Hope has scored 1,897 runs in 70 T20I innings at a strike rate of 139.69. Overall, he has scored 6,246 runs in 227 T20 innings at a strike rate of 129.63. These numbers underline his experience in the shortest format, although a move to either franchise would depend on their final squad combinations.
Aakash Chopra Rules Out RCB, CSK, KKR and Other IPL Franchises
Aakash Chopra believes several other IPL franchises are unlikely to pursue the Hope because they already have established wicketkeepers and settled top-order combinations.
"I didn't get anything apart from them. Maybe as a replacement for Phil Salt, but then you will have to let Jordan Cox go, which you wouldn't want. The guy bats down the order. So Bengaluru doesn't need him. KKR have Tim Seifert and Finn Allen. So they also don't need him. If you look at Chennai, they have Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad as openers. So they won't need him," he said.
"The Rajasthan Royals have Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi as openers, Dhruv Jurel comes at No. 3 as the keeper, and Riyan Parag is at No. 4. So they won't need him either. Delhi already have two keepers. One doesn't know whether KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant would keep. So they also don't need him," Chopra observed.
"Punjab might have needed him, but Ricky Ponting's history shows he doesn't play too many West Indies players. Mumbai Indians already have Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock. The SunRisers Hyderabad have Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head as openers, and Ishan Kishan comes at No. 3. They have Heinrich Klaasen. Why would they need a keeper-batter?" he elaborated.
Also read: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal endure horrible starts in Ranji Trophy 2026-27 opener
