"RCB need a keeper, a batter, and maybe a captain" - Aakash Chopra says Rishabh Pant might go for 25-30 crores if he is available in IPL 2025 auction

Aakash Chopra reckons Rishabh Pant might be bought for an exorbitant sum if the wicketkeeper-batter is available at the IPL 2025 auction. He pointed out that virtually every franchise, including the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), would be interested in acquiring his services.

The IPL franchises need to finalize their retentions before Thursday, October 31. Reports suggest Pant might not stay with the Delhi Capitals (DC) and consequently be available to be picked at the auction.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener opined that wicketkeeper-batters will rake in the moolah in IPL 2025. While noting that Heinrich Klaasen, Nicholas Pooran, Sanju Samson, and Jos Buttler might be retained for massive sums, Chopra highlighted that Pant might attract bids from virtually every franchise if he reaches the auction.

"It's being heard that Rishabh Pant might be available at the auction. Although the jury is out, many people say his numbers in T20s are not that good, had only one breakthrough season in the IPL and hasn't scored too many runs apart from that, I can give you in writing that the bank would be broken if his name comes in the auction," he said (7:00).

"RCB need a keeper, a batter, and maybe a captain. Punjab would need him as they won't have anyone. Delhi would need him back, the RTM card would be available. KKR also need him. What about CSK, they would also need him. If Ishan Kishan is left out, Mumbai would also need him," Chopra added.

Chopra reckons Pant might be bought for INR 25 to 30 crore.

"Why would LSG not be interested even if they retain Nicholas Pooran? Everyone apart from Rajasthan would need him. Gujarat will also need him. They don't have a keeper. So overall, Rishabh Pant will get a lot of money. He might go for 25-30 crores," he observed.

Pant was the Delhi Capitals' highest run-getter in IPL 2024. He smashed 446 runs at a strike rate of 155.40 in 13 innings upon returning to competitive cricket after a horrific car accident in 2022.

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"The same is true for KL Rahul" - Aakash Chopra on the potential interest in the LSG wicketkeeper-batter

KL Rahul scored 520 runs in 14 innings in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that KL Rahul might also be a sought-after wicketkeeper-batter if he is available at the auction, with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) potentially being one of the interested franchises.

"The same is true for KL Rahul. Again a wicketkeeper-batter and he scores 500-600 runs every year. Some people might cry over his strike rate but I saw a meme somewhere that he is more than 30 years old, married, and everyone is saying he is finished, so CSK might take him as such players go there and, as they say, the rest is history," he said (8:00).

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that most other franchises might also be keen to acquire the Karnataka wicketkeeper-batter.

"He can go to Bengaluru as well. Of course, it's his home as well. All the same franchises - Punjab, Delhi, Mumbai, where his numbers are very good, Kolkata - everyone needs him," Chopra noted.

Chopra pointed out that Ishan Kishan might also draw a lot of bids if he isn't part of the Mumbai Indians' five capped retentions. He concluded by observing that wicketkeeper-batters are going to enjoy a phenomenal IPL auction as the likes of Dhruv Jurel, Jitesh Sharma, Abhishek Porel, Phil Salt, and Ramnanullah Gurbaz are also likely to be bought for big sums.