Former India player Aakash Chopra has questioned the KKR about the batting order they have used in IPL 2025. He wondered whether they bought Venkatesh Iyer for a whopping ₹23.75 crore in the auction to bat him at No. 5 as well. However, KKR will square off against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 15 of IPL 2025 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, April 3 as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “When I look at it from Kolkata’s perspective, I feel they should correct their batting order. The batting order needs to be sorted out because I am unable to understand their batting order. You have Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine – that’s okay. However, (Ajinkya) Rahane comes at No. 3 and Angkrish Raghuvanshi at No. 4.”
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“Did you give so much money to Venkatesh Iyer to bat at No. 5? He is a No. 3 batter. If possible, you could even open with him. However, you are sending him at No. 5. It means you have taken a Ferrari but are saying you would drive it in Chandni Chowk or Crawford Market. If you have taken a Ferrari, send it quickly to the race track. If Venkatesh Iyer goes to No. 5, then Rinku Singh at No. 6, Andre Russell at No. 7, and Ramandeep Singh at No. 8. You brought in Manish Pandey that day (against the Mumbai Indians), so Ramandeep at No. 9. I don’t get that,” Chopra shared again.
However, Aakash Chopra also urged the KKR to leave Angkrish Raghuvanshi out of their starting XI even while batting first and to
use either Manish Pandey only if required as well.
“The responsibilities will have to be changed a little. I feel you can actually leave Angkrish Raghuvanshi out, that you will use him only if you need him. Otherwise, you will let him go. It’s okay. You don’t need that much batting. You can have Ramandeep at No. 7, and if it’s still required after that, you can bring in Angkrish Raghuvanshi or Manish Pandey, whoever you wish,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
