Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season nears its business end, the five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will have a lot of points to talk about as they now prepare for the next edition. With CSK likely to finish the season at the bottom most spot for the first-ever time in the league history, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested them to get back to the drawing board and analyse the season.
Moreover, Chopra also suggested as many as seven names that he opines CSK to let go ahead of the next edition. “I’ve got a long list actually. I would release [R] Ashwin, [Ravindra] Jadeja, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi…” Chopra said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show.
I would say probably trade Jadeja: Akash Chopra’s stern take on Ravindra Jadeja after CSK’s dismal show
Moreover, Chopra was critical of India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has failed to fire despite being promoted up the order in the batting lineup. Speaking on the ESPNcricinfo show after CSK lost their 10th game of the season by a six-wicket to the Rajasthan Royals, Chopra said, "I would say probably trade him (Jadeja). You have Dewald Brevis as your No.4. Bat him at No.4. This is a stop-gap arrangement with Devon Conway and Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel at 3. There is a mini auction in between, if you are releasing Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, it's common sense that you will find somebody who can be an absolute banker and destructor at the top."
"Why would you want Ruturaj Gaikwad to bat with somebody who will not go hammer and tongs? Have Urvil Patel at 3, rather have one more guy. Either get a finisher or top order overseas batter with Dewald Brevis apart from Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana. Sam Curran at 3 and Jadeja at 4 won't make sense," he further added.
Speaking of the Indian veteran, Jadeja has amassed 280 runs in 13 innings at an average of 31.11 and a strike rate of 137.25. His highest score of 77* came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. In the 13 matches, Jadeja has picked up eight wickets at an economy of 8.81.
