"This team might not retain Shami because of injury concerns" - Aakash Chopra on Gujarat Titans' potential retentions ahead of IPL 2025 auction
Aakash Chopra reckons the Gujarat Titans (GT) might not retain Mohammed Shami ahead of the IPL 2025 auction due to his injury issues. He feels the IPL 2022 champions might retain only three capped players.
With 28 scalps, Shami was the Purple Cap winner in IPL 2023. However, he wasn't available for this year's tournament and has yet to fully recover from the ankle injury he sustained at the 2023 ODI World Cup.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, and Sai Sudharsan should be the Gujarat Titans' first three retentions. He added that the franchise shouldn't retain Shami or any other capped player as their fourth retention.
"One will be a very straightforward retention that you have to keep Shubman Gill. The second is a no-brainer, that's Rashid Khan. You should retain him as well. I feel Sai Sudharsan is the third player they should retain. If Sai Sudharsan goes to the market, he will take 8 to 10 crores for sure, and you will be able to retain him for 11 crores," he said (6:05).
"After that, they don't have any other player who is worth 18 crores, who will be sold for 18 crores if you release them, whether it's Kane Williamson, Mohammed Shami, David Miller, or any other name. I am saying this team might not retain Shami because of injury concerns," the former India opener added.
Chopra pointed out that Shami hasn't played for a long time, with age also not on his side. He added that the Gujarat Titans might get the veteran seamer for six to eight crores if he is allowed to go to the auction.
"One will be Rahul Tewatia and the other will be Mohit Sharma" - Aakash Chopra on the Gujarat Titans' potential uncapped retentions
![The Gujarat Titans acquired Rahul Tewatia for ₹9 crore at the IPL 2022 auction. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/99925-17279303138393-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that the Gujarat Titans will likely retain Rahul Tewatia and Mohit Sharma as uncapped players.
"They can pick two uncapped players for four crores apiece and I feel they will do that as well. One will be Rahul Tewatia and the other will be Mohit Sharma. So you can go with these five and you will have a Right To Match card. If you wish, you can use it for David Miller. If not, you can let him go as well," he said (7:15).
The reputed commentator added that the Titans could use the Right To Match card for Noor Ahmad or Mohammed Shami apart from David Miller.
"That is also an option if you want to go in some other direction. You might look for a wicketkeeper-batter at the auction if you want to make your batting more strong. So they might want to buy Phil Salt. I feel Wriddhiman Saha might not be that useful now. You can also use the Right To Match card for Noor Ahmad or Shami," Chopra elaborated.
Miller scored 210 runs at a strike rate of 151.07 in nine innings in IPL 2024. Noor scalped eight wickets at an economy rate of 8.32 in 10 innings this year.