"Just like the MRF Pace Academy, an Ashish Nehra pace academy has been created" - Aakash Chopra on Gujarat Titans' seam-bowling lineup for IPL 2025
Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has noted that the Gujarat Titans (GT) acquired a plethora of fast bowlers in the IPL 2025 auction. He light-heartedly stated that the franchise can create a pace academy under their head coach Ashish Nehra, similar to India's famed MRF Pace Academy.
Rashid Khan (₹18 crore) was the Titans' only bowling retention ahead of the auction. Kagiso Rabada (₹10.75 crore), Mohammed Siraj (₹12.25 crore) and Prasidh Krishna (₹9.50 crore) were their prominent seam-bowling acquisitions at the mega auction.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener pointed out that the Gujarat Titans have virtually built a seam-bowling academy as part of their squad.
"They needed fast bowlers because the ball moves under lights on their home pitch. So they went shopping and their shopping list was very long. Apart from Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee, they have got Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar and Kulwant Khejroliya," he said (4:15).
"They have all of them. So they have built a heap of fast bowlers. Just like the MRF Pace Academy, an Ashish Nehra pace academy has been created, in which the fast-bowling options are outstanding. Gerald Coetzee, who is a quality operator, may have to actually sit on the bench. Karim Janat is also part of this team," Chopra added.
Rabada, Siraj and Krishna will likely feature in the Titans' first-choice XII, including the Impact Player. While Gerald Coetzee and Karim Janat will form the overseas seam-bowling backups, the IPL 2022 champions have a combination of experience and youth as part of their Indian fast-bowling bench.
"Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad were a different combination" - Aakash Chopra on the 'slight downgrade' in the Gujarat Titans' spin bowling
![The Gujarat Titans failed to reacquire Noor Ahmad at the IPL 2025 auction. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/e9d8f-17333215418970-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that the Gujarat Titans' spin-bowling department has been weakened slightly due to Noor Ahmad's departure.
"The only place where you feel there is a slight downgrade is spin bowling because Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad were a different combination. They hit you differently. Now also they have Washington Sundar and Sai Kishore, who is actually quality, with Rashid, but it's not the same," he said (6:15).
The reputed commentator added that GT could also have a potential death-bowling problem.
"If we go too deep, can they have a death-bowling problem? Quite possible, because neither Prasidh Krishna nor Mohammed Siraj, and Kagiso Rabada is not your gun death bowler either. Gerald Coetzee - not a gun death bowler. Ishant Sharma is also not a death bowler. So they could have slight problems in death bowling," Chopra reasoned.
However, Chopra noted that the Titans do not have a significant weakness. He concluded by rating their squad 9.5 out of 10.