"If you got 2 uncapped openers despite having ₹110 crore, did you shop well?" - Aakash Chopra on Punjab Kings' potential problem in IPL 2025
Former India player Aakash Chopra reckons the Punjab Kings' (PBKS) opening combination could be a potential issue for them in IPL 2025. He pointed out that the franchise might have to go with two uncapped Indian openers — Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya.
PBKS had retained Prabhsimran for ₹4 crore, while they spent ₹3.80 crore to buy Arya at the recent mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the cricketer-turned-commentator questioned the Punjab Kings for not acquiring renowned openers despite having ₹110.50 crore in their kitty heading into the auction.
"Let's start with the openers. They retained Prabhsimran Singh and have bought Priyansh Arya very expensive. He is a good kid, hits clean sixes, and his stocks have gone up drastically, but he is an uncapped Indian. His stocks have gone up at the domestic level. No one knows what he will do in the IPL," he said (5:30).
"If both their openers remain uncapped Indians, I will be a little surprised that if you got two uncapped openers despite having ₹110 crore, did you shop well? It's a dicey situation. It can be good as well but what if it doesn't? Then you will say that you could have got Jos Buttler, Ishan Kishan or Phil Salt as an opener with that much money," Chopra added.
Prabhsimran scored 334 runs at a strike rate of 156.81 in 14 matches in IPL 2024. Arya was the highest run-scorer (608 runs in 10 innings, striking at 198.69) and hit six sixes in an over in the Delhi Premier League, but has never played in the IPL.
"Who knows they might make him open" - Aakash Chopra on Marcus Stoinis as Punjab Kings' potential opening option
![The Punjab Kings bought Marcus Stoinis for ₹11 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/ca343-17329406091602-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Marcus Stoinis could be an opening option for the Punjab Kings.
"The second option they have is to use Marcus Stoinis as an opener because he opens and Ricky Ponting has brought him back. So who knows they might make him open," he said (6:50).
The former India opener added that PBKS could alternatively use Josh Inglis at the top of the order, although it might compromise their balance.
"Another option could be to open with Josh Inglis. He is the current (stand-in) captain of the Australian T20 team. He is also a very decent player. He can open but the balance will be slightly off if you open with Inglis," Chopra observed.
Chopra pointed out that Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell are virtual certainties as overseas players in the Punjab Kings playing XI. He added that the franchise won't be able to field two overseas seamers if they play Inglis as an opener.