Veteran cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has slammed social media handles that posted fake news about former players likely to become India’s new chief selector as well. He stated that the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane have been named, saying that the two veteran cricketers aren’t even eligible for the role. Notably, Ajit Agarkar was appointed India’s chief selector in July 2023. The Indian team has had mixed results during his tenure as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane, when I saw those two names mentioned, I laughed and smiled a little. Someone used to verify it earlier, but now we try to do it. How much can the ones verifying do?” Chopra said. “Image creation has become very, very easy. Graphic designers had to be hired for that earlier, and it happens easily these days. Absolutely believable images come these days.”

“There are criteria if you want to become the national senior team’s selector. You have to play so many games. They qualify that criteria, but they should have retired five years ago. Rahane has retired this month. Ravichandran Ashwin retired last year. They are not eligible at all,” he shared again.

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However, Aakash Chopra also added that one doesn’t know whether VVS Laxman would become India’s new chief selector, as he has been mentioned by one of the Instagram handles as well.

“The Ashwin one is from an Instagram handle, ‘sportsclaus.’ There are 1,116 comments on that, and it has been reposted 586 times. There is one on VVS Laxman as well. There are almost 10,500 likes on that, and it has been shared 1,640 times. Is VVS Laxman going to become? Nobody knows,” he said.

“Here, it has been put as breaking news. This is also from ‘sportsclaus,’ that he is now emerging as the leading candidate. I don’t know who the leading candidate is, but there can’t be so many. There was also talk of VVS Laxman being made the coach, that he would be made the Test coach in place of Gautam Gambhir. Now it’s being said that he would become the chairman of selectors,” Aakash Chopra concluded.