Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned the SRH’s batting approach in their IPL 2025 defeat to the Delhi Capitals (DC). He was also disappointed with Nitish Kumar Reddy’s shot selection that led to his dismissal as well. However, DC bowled SRH out for 163 with Reddy falling for a two-ball duck. The hosts then reached the target with seven wickets and four overs to spare.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “When you came to bat, why were you in such a hurry? When you are unable to reach 170 and don’t even play the entire 120 balls, the question arises that in the plan you have made to optimize every ball, there should be a system to put a break somewhere, but it wasn’t there at all. Mitchell Starc picked up his first five-wicket haul. He has taken a massive pay cut, but check his performance. He got Travis Head out with a bouncer. He got Ishan Kishan caught in the deep and then Nitish Kumar Reddy. Reddy sir, what shot were you playing? Please give yourself a little time. No one is giving himself time.”
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“He (Reddy) too got out, and then Axar Patel’s incredible catch in the end. He (Starc) also picked up the last wicket to end the innings. His bowling was absolutely gold dust. You have to bowl differently on an afternoon pitch as you don’t get swing, and it seemed like he came with a different plan. Mitchell Starc was absolutely outstanding,” Chopra again stated.
However, Aakash Chopra also applauded Kuldeep Yadav for bowling an important spell in the Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2025 clash against the SRH.
“Although it’s not a big ground, but that’s Kuldeep Yadav’s story. He picked up wickets in the last match and this match as well. He bowled more dot balls in the last match. He bowls slow and gets the ball to turn. Even if you keep hitting sixes, he is not one of those bowlers who would start bowling fast. So the ball goes up in the air, and you get caught. Whether it was Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy or Abhinav Manohar, give yourself a little time. Do that at least when the team is getting out. There is a very thin line between carelessness or recklessness and bravery. They looked slightly reckless this time,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
