"I don't think you will retain Bhuvi" - Aakash Chopra on SRH's potential retentions for IPL 2025

Aakash Chopra doesn't expect the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) to retain Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The former cricketer feels Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, and Abhishek Sharma might be the Hyderabad-based franchise's preferred retention options.

SRH finished as the runners-up in IPL 2024, losing to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final. Bhuvneshwar was their third-highest wicket-taker, picking up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 9.35 in 16 games.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra was asked about the SunRisers Hyderabad's potential retentions ahead for IPL 2025.

"They will retain Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen and Abhishek Sharma. I think these four should be retained because you cannot let them go anywhere. They have a destructive team. Both left-handed openers come and hit sixes and then Heinrich Klaasen comes and destroys," he responded (13:30).

"Aiden Markram - how many overseas will you be able to keep? Don't know what rule is going to come about the number of overseas that can be retained. They will definitely try to retain these three or four names. I don't think you will retain Bhuvi because it's a three-year game. I feel the auction and retention are going to be very interesting this time," the former India opener added.

Head (567), Abhishek (484), and Klaasen (479) were SRH's top run-getters in IPL 2024. T Natarajan (19) and Cummins (18) accounted for more dismissals than Bhuvneshwar for the franchise.

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"Axar, Kuldeep, Rishabh, and Jake Fraser-McGurk" - Aakash Chopra on Delhi Capitals' potential retentions

Rishabh Pant was the Delhi Capitals' highest run-scorer in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra was asked about the Delhi Capitals' potential retentions.

"Axar (Patel), Rishabh Pant, and Jake Fraser-McGurk, Khaleel (Ahmed) maybe and Kuldeep (Yadav) - that's it. So Axar, Kuldeep, Rishabh, and Jake Fraser-McGurk, and then depending on how many you have," he replied (25:30).

While noting that Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar could be additional retention options, the former Kolkata Knight Riders player added that he wouldn't want to retain Mitchell Marsh and David Warner.

"Khaleel is there and Mukesh (Kumar) is there. I will let both Mitchell Marsh and David Warner go. Why worry about it, that's what I feel," Chopra observed.

Rishabh Pant (446), Tristan Stubbs (378), and Jake Fraser-McGurk (330) were the Capitals' top run-getters in IPL 2024. Khaleel (17), Mukesh (17), and Kuldeep Yadav (16) were the franchise's most successful bowlers.