"RCB's loss is Mumbai's gain" - Aakash Chopra on Mumbai Indians' acquisition of Allah Ghazanfar in IPL 2025 auction
Aakash Chopra reckons Allah Ghazanfar was a great buy for the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the IPL 2025 auction. He questioned the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for allowing the Afghanistan spinner to be picked by the Mumbai-based franchise for a relatively cheap price.
The Mumbai Indians acquired Ghazanfar for ₹4.80 crore at the recent auction after a bidding war with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Trent Boult (₹12.50 crore) and Deepak Chahar (₹9.25 crore) were the five-time champions' other big-ticket bowling picks at the auction.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener opined that RCB erred in letting Ghazanfar and Will Jacks go to MI.
"Who is Allah Ghazanfar? He is an Afghanistan bowler. There was a match in Sharjah where Bangladesh were 132/3 and were all out for 143. He took six wickets while conceding 26 runs. They were playing for the incoming ball when the ball was going away and vice versa. He is a quality player," he said (7:25).
"I see a slightly upgraded version of Mujeeb Ur Rahman in him. The action is similar, but he is slightly more accurate. He is slightly quicker in the air, and it seems like people are finding it difficult to read him at the moment. He is a steal. I felt RCB wouldn't let him go. RCB's loss is Mumbai's gain, as was the case with Will Jacks," Chopra added.
Apart from Ghazanfar, the Mumbai Indians bought Mitchell Santner (₹2 crore) as an overseas spinner. Suyash Sharma is the only recognized specialist spinner in RCB's lineup.
"Trent Boult at the Wankhede Stadium is an absolute beast" - Aakash Chopra on Mumbai Indians' acquisition of Kiwi seamer in IPL 2025 auction
![Trent Boult was released by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/7c806-17326829487190-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that the Mumbai Indians acquired one of the most ideal seam-bowling partners for Jasprit Bumrah in Trent Boult.
"Imagine if you were living in a fantasy land, whom would you want with Jasprit Bumrah? It would be enjoyable if you get Trent Boult, Mitchell Starc or Arshdeep Singh. They acquired Trent Boult. Trent Boult at the Wankhede Stadium is an absolute beast. He picked up three wickets in the first three overs the last time he played against Mumbai there. That was game, set and match," he said (5:35).
The reputed commentator added that the Mumbai Indians' purchase of Deepak Chahar implies they won't need to use Bumrah with the new ball.
"It's not Boult only. If they have Boult at one end, they won't start with Bumrah at the other end. They will start with Deepak Chahar. He is phenomenal. I rate him very highly. If you see his numbers with the new ball, the Wankhede pitch, and the slight swing available there, with Boult and Deepak Chahar, at least once in this tournament, the opposing team will be three or four down in the powerplay overs itself," Chopra observed.
Chopra noted that Bumrah might bowl only a solitary over in the powerplay. He questioned how the opposition teams would score runs if the premier pacer bowled three overs at the death.