Former India opener turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has picked the KKR’s opening combination as a key aspect heading into their IPL 2025 clash against the RR as well. He wondered how long KKR would persist with Quinton de Kock if he continues to fail at the top
of the order as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “What will be the two or three big aspects for them? One will be opening because last year’s success was built on this foundation. So Quinton de Kock with Sunil Narine. The captain and coaching staff have changed here. Gautam (Gambhir) is not there and Chandrakant Pandit ji is managing the team. So how much patience will they keep with Quinton de Kock? That will be a question.”

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“Also considering the kind of explosive player Sunil Narine is, the question is always there whether he can play the same way as he did last year. I am looking very closely at their opening combination. Half of this team’s story will be set if the opening combination is set. So that is an important one,” Chopra again shared.

However, Aakash Chopra also stated that the KKR’s middle order was found wanting in the IPL 2025 opener against the RCB as well.

“The second thing I am seeing from KKR’s point of view is that the middle order got absolutely flattened. You had scored 100 runs in 10 overs and should have gone till 200-225, and you reached 175 with great difficulty. This is not a batting order like that. It has Rinku Singh, Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh, and they also used Angkrish Raghuvanshi. So if you have so much depth, variety, and power in batting, then come to the fore, my friend. Absolutely smash them to bits. They will be hurt for sure as they were humbled at home,” Aakash Chopra concluded.