"What is the logic?" - Aakash Chopra on the Rajasthan Royals retaining Shimron Hetmyer ahead of Jos Buttler before IPL 2025 auction

Aakash Chopra has questioned the Rajasthan Royals' (RR) decision to retain Shimron Hetmyer ahead of Jos Buttler before the IPL 2025 auction. He noted that the Jaipur-based franchise doesn't even have the 'Right To Match' card option to reacquire Buttler at the auction.

The Royals retained five capped players - Sanju Samson (₹18 crore), Yashasvi Jaiswal (₹18 crore), Riyan Parag (₹14 crore), Dhruv Jurel (₹14 crore) and Hetmyer (₹11 crore). They also held on to Sandeep Sharma (₹4 crore) as an uncapped player.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener expressed surprise about Hetmyer and even Riyan Parag being among the Rajasthan Royals' preferred retentions ahead of Jos Buttler.

"Rajasthan Royals was a team that had a lot of players to be retained. Whoever they would have left would have been unhappy. There are questions for sure. The three names that seemed would definitely stay included Sanju Samson, who is the captain, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. It was known that these two would 100 percent stay," he said (3:45).

"It was assumed that Riyan Parag would also stay and he stayed as well, although you thought Jos Buttler would be retained before Riyan Parag. Jos wasn't retained and Shimron Hetmyer was retained. What is the logic? You let Jos Buttler go and you don't have an RTM left as well," Chopra added.

Chopra pointed out that Buttler played match-winning knocks for RR even when he was not at his best.

"I admit that Jos Buttler's last two years haven't been that good but when he played badly, he scored two centuries, and both in winning causes. Whenever Jos does well, he wins the match, but they let him go. It seems like Jos is their global brand ambassador. He plays for them for the Paarl Royals as well. So you assumed this partnership would continue. I was very surprised they let Jos go," he observed.

Buttler amassed 359 runs, including two centuries, at an average of 39.89 in 11 innings in IPL 2024. Hetmyer aggregated 113 runs at an average of 22.60 in nine innings this season.

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"You won't get him again" - Aakash Chopra on the Rajasthan Royals releasing Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 18 wickets at an economy rate of 9.41 in 15 innings in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra also questioned the Rajasthan Royals for releasing Yuzvendra Chahal and opined that they are unlikely to get the leg-spinner back.

"Everyone believed they would definitely try to retain Yuzi Chahal, and even if he goes they would save the Right to Match card for him. At times, you think that you will keep him for the Right to Match card as no spinner might go for 11 crores. Fair play, but they let him go and didn't keep the RTM card as well. You won't get him again because you have spent a lot of money," he said (5:30).

The renowned commentator wasn't convinced about RR's decision to retain Dhruv Jurel for ₹14 crore.

"You retained Dhruv Jurel. It's not about his quality, I love the kid, I was saying that he will be one of the more expensive players, but 14 crores, I am not sure. I would have kept the RTM for him as well, that I would let him go and buy him back again if required," he observed.

Chopra concluded by noting that the Rajasthan Royals had assembled a good team last time but it has disintegrated a little and they are themselves responsible for it. He added that the inaugural IPL champions missed a trick or two in their retention process.