Home / Sports / CSK Missed Mega Auction Bus, Chopra Claims
CSK Missed Mega Auction Bus, Chopra Claims
20 Nov
Summary
- CSK reportedly missed chances to acquire KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan.
- Sanju Samson was acquired as a long-term successor for MS Dhoni.
- RR's 2025 mega auction strategy, including releasing key players, was criticized.
Former batter Aakash Chopra has asserted that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) missed crucial opportunities during the 2025 IPL mega auction. Chopra pointed out that while KL Rahul might have been a compelling target, CSK's prior retention of Ruturaj Gaikwad likely prevented such a move due to their similar batting styles. He believes the franchise "goofed up" by not securing a quality wicketkeeper-batter then, making Sanju Samson the ideal long-term replacement for MS Dhoni.
Chopra also levied criticism against the Rajasthan Royals for their strategic missteps in the same mega auction. He highlighted their decision to release key players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, and Jos Buttler, only to acquire two overseas spinners whose inclusion proved ineffective. This poor auction planning, according to Chopra, directly contributed to their ninth-place finish in the previous season.
With the IPL 2026 auction approaching, Chopra suggested that both CSK and RR have areas to address. While CSK secured Samson, their earlier auction phase was suboptimal. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, could improve their performance if they avoid overcomplicating team selections and maintain a balanced lineup, potentially leveraging players like Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran effectively.
