"He played his last T20 in 2014" - Aakash Chopra on James Anderson putting his name in IPL 2025 auction

Aakash Chopra has questioned James Anderson why he put his name in the IPL 2025 auction. He pointed out that the veteran England seamer hasn't played a T20 game since 2014.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced that this year's mega auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. Anderson is among the high-profile overseas players who have registered for the auction.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener expressed surprise about Anderson putting his name in the auction and opined that he might not find any takers.

"Jimmy Anderson is there, and I am thinking why is Jimmy Anderson there? He played his last T20I in 2009. He played his last T20 in 2014, which means it has been ages. You have come for your retirement plan and Jimmy Anderson might go unsold at ₹1.25 crore. There is a strong possibility but he has put his name," he said (6:00).

As for Ben Stokes not putting his name in the auction, Chopra pointed out that the England Test skipper hasn't lived up to his reputation and has hardly played in the IPL in recent years.

"Ben Stokes has said that he won't play. I am saying 'unchi dukan pheeka pakwan', 'naam bade darshan chote'. That is Ben Stokes. He has played three matches in total in the last four years. He played one in 2021, didn't play in 2022, played two in 2023, and didn't play in 2024," he noted.

The reputed commentator added that Stokes too might not have attracted bids had he put his name in the auction.

"In 2025, he is saying that he is going to miss it, that he doesn't want to play as he wants to focus. Focus where? He might have been sold at the base price here. Bids might not have been placed on him at all. He remains injured a lot and doesn't play. The name is there but performance-wise, let's not go there," Chopra reasoned.

The Chennai Super Kings bought Stokes for a whopping sum of ₹16.25 crore at the IPL 2023 auction. However, he played only two games last year, aggregating 15 runs at an average of 7.50, and going wicketless while conceding 18 runs in the only over he bowled.

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"Smith might become Punjab's captain" - Aakash Chopra

Steve Smith wasn't part of IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]

Reflecting on the overseas players who have listed themselves in the ₹2 crore bracket, Aakash Chopra opined that Steve Smith could become the Punjab Kings' captain.

"The ₹2 crore people include (Jos) Buttler, (Mitchell) Starc, (Glenn) Maxwell and Steven Smith. Smith might become Punjab's captain. You never know - Punter (Ricky Ponting) has gone there. (Jonny) Bairstow, (Kagiso) Rabada, (Mark) Wood, (Jofra) Archer and (Gus) Atkinson are among the overseas players who have put their names in the ₹2 crore list," he said (6:15) in the same video.

Chopra noted that Thomas Jack Draka, an Italian right-arm medium pacer, has also registered for the auction. He opined that the Mumbai Indians might have asked him to put his name as he has played for the MI Emirates in the International League T20 (ILT20).