IPL 2023: "The Team Would Have Gotten Stronger If They Had Gone After Mayank Agarwal" - Aakash Chopra

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes the Gujarat Titans (GT) would have become stronger if they had bought Mayank Agarwal in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 mini-auction, which was held in Kochi on Friday, December 23.

While Punjab Kings released Mayank before the auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for Rs 8.25 crores. The Titans bought seven players, including Kane Williamson, in the auction. The defending champions also added Odean Smith, KS Bharat, Shivam Mavi, Urvil Patel, Joshua Little, and Mohit Sharma at the auction.

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In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra expressed his surprise at the Gujarat Titans’ decision not to try to sign Mayank. The former Indian batter believes Hardik Pandya’s IPL 2023 team is almost as strong as last year’s.

“The team was okay earlier and is okay now as well. There was no big Indian name available in batting. They didn’t go towards Manish Pandey. They would have probably got him if they had gone. I thought they will go after Mayank Agarwal. The team would have gotten stronger if they had gone after him,” Aakash Chopra said.

“You could have got two Indian openers, but they didn’t go in that direction. They have strengthened their fast bowling, that’s the kind of cricket they want to play. Have they become a stronger team after the auctions? I will say they are almost the same as last year,” he added.

They Can Play Yash Dayal, Shami And Shivam Mavi As The Third – Aakash Chopra

Akash Chopra believes that Gujarat Titans are a slightly better this year with the addition of Kane Williamson. The commentator-turned-cricketer said the franchise has the option of playing three Indian seamers with Shivam Mavi as the third pacer.

“There will be a slight improvement because of Kane coming in. You will get stability, you have got a few more options in Indian fast bowling. If you see from that angle, they are looking 10 percent better than what they were looking earlier.”

“Yash Dayal used to bowl well with Shami and there used to be an overseas fast bowler along with them. They could have a similar combination now as well, but now they can go with all three Indian fast bowlers, they can play Yash Dayal, Shami and Shivam Mavi as the third.”

Also read: IPL 2023: “They Have Picked Manish Pandey, What Will They Get Him To Do?” – Aakash Chopra On Delhi Capitals

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