"You had arguably the best possible spin twin available with you but you let both go" - Aakash Chopra on Rajasthan Royals' issue heading into IPL 2025
Aakash Chopra reckons the Rajasthan Royals' (RR) spin-bowling combination could be an issue in IPL 2025. He questioned the franchise for releasing Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin and not reacquiring either at the auction.
Chahal and Ashwin were not among RR's six retentions ahead of the auction. While they didn't try to reacquire Chahal, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) outbid them to buy Ashwin for ₹9.75 crore.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener noted that the Rajasthan Royals let go of two of the most accomplished spinners who were part of their lineup last season.
"They have managed the lower-order issue they had, but they had Yuzi Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin. You had arguably the best possible spin twin available with you but you let both go. You didn't retain either of them, and that means you had to go shopping," he said (6:40).
Chopra added that Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, RR's overseas spin-bowling picks, aren't of the same quality as Sunil Narine and Rashid Khan.
"They picked overseas spinners - Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. I am thinking that the Jaipur ground, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, might actually suit them. It's a big ground, but two overseas spinners, unless their names are Sunil Narine and Rashid Khan. So you think twice if this tactic is right," he observed.
The Rajasthan Royals purchased Hasaranga and Theekshana for ₹5.25 crore and ₹4.40 crore respectively. They outbid the Mumbai Indians (MI) to acquire both the Sri Lankan spinners.
"I think no spinner has been more injured than him" - Aakash Chopra on the Rajasthan Royals' acquisition of Wanindu Hasaranga
![Wanindu Hasaranga missed IPL 2024 due to chronic heel pain in his left foot. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/9df3b-17332035345454-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Wanindu Hasaranga's frequent injury issues could be another potential concern for the Rajasthan Royals.
"It's fine if you keep overseas fast bowling at times. However, you went with both overseas spinners, of which one is extremely injury-prone. Wanindu Hasaranga has missed a lot of cricket because of injuries. I think no spinner has been more injured than him and he is an integral part of their team, because none of the top six bowls, if you leave aside Riyan Parag's bowling," he said (7:15).
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Kumar Kartikeya, RR's Indian spin-bowling recruit, didn't get a game for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024.
"It's extremely necessary for Wanindu Hasaranga to remain fit and available. Still the question mark remains that you have just two overseas spinners, and then you have got Kumar Kartikeya, who didn't play or bowl last year. If this is your spin attack, I feel there is an issue," Chopra observed.
Chopra pointed out that plenty of Indian spin-bowling options were available at the auction. He added that the franchise could have even acquired the experienced Piyush Chawla, who went unsold.