"There was a thought for sure whether Jadeja is overpriced" - Aakash Chopra on CSK's retentions ahead of IPL 2025 auction
Aakash Chopra has acknowledged that questions were raised about whether the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) overspent while retaining Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. However, he termed it a right decision by the five-time champions.
CSK spent ₹65 crore to retain five players before the auction. They have a remaining purse of ₹55 crore to assemble the rest of their squad.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that CSK didn't spend any extra money on their retentions. However, he acknowledged that doubts were raised about Jadeja being retained for ₹18 crore.
"They have retained Ruturaj Gaikwad for ₹18 crore and Ravindra Jadeja also for ₹18 crore. They have given ₹13 crore to Matheesha Pathirana and ₹12 crore to Shivam Dube. So overall they spent only that much money that will get deducted. They didn't spend one extra rupee. MS Dhoni was retained for ₹4 crore," he said (6:50).
"There was a thought for sure whether Jadeja is overpriced because his T20 numbers are not incredible. Even if you see for Chennai, he has made important contributions but they haven't been so huge that you would say it's 18-crore worth," Chopra added.
However, Chopra opined that CSK's call to retain the spin-bowling all-rounder was judicious.
"However, he is a very important player for Chennai. Chennai wants to keep their family together. Sometimes it is more than the money and you won't get this skill set. Axar Patel is there and he is already retained. After that, you can find Krunal Pandya or Mushir Khan but the same quality isn't there. So I feel retaining Jadeja was the right decision," he reasoned.
Jadeja scored 267 runs at a strike rate of 142.78 in 11 innings in IPL 2024. The left-arm spinner picked up eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.85 in 14 innings this season.
"Absolute gold dust" - Aakash Chopra on CSK's retention of Matheesha Pathirana
![Matheesha Pathirana picked up 13 wickets at an economy rate of 7.68 in six innings in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/3cf55-17318184236571-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Matheesha Pathirana and Ravindra Jadeja's retentions imply that CSK have secured eight of the 20 overs.
"They have secured eight overs of bowling. There are four overs of Matheesha Pathirana - four overs at the death, absolute gold dust, and four overs of Ravindra Jadeja, which will be bowled in the middle overs. They are not bowled with the new or old ball. His quota is finished by the 13th or 14th over," he said (8:00).
The reputed commentator added that the Chennai-based franchise also has an opener and three middle-order batters heading into the auction.
"They have an opener in Ruturaj Gaikwad and also the captain. So well done. Shivam Dube, who bats down the order, and there are very few Indians who bat down the order. He is one of the rare guys who hits a lot of sixes, and there is MS Dhoni. He was hitting a lot of sixes in the last two years. They also have Ravindra Jadeja as a floater in the middle and a gun fielder, of course," Chopra observed.
With 583 runs at a strike rate of 141.16 in 14 innings, Ruturaj Gaikwad was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2024. While Shivam Dube amassed 396 runs at a strike rate of 162.29 in 14 innings this season, MS Dhoni scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 220.54 in 11 hits.