Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has picked an IPL 2025 XI featuring only uncapped Indians. He picked Vaibhav Suryavanshi ahead of Ayush Mhatre as the No. 3 batter as well. However, RCB bagged the IPL 2025 trophy by beating the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the final in Ahmedabad as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “I am going with two uncapped Punjabis to begin with. Of course, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, because they took the team to the final. Priyansh Arya has started so beautifully. Prabhsimran Singh had a season with 500-plus runs. Just to put things into perspective, Rohit Sharma has had one season with 500-plus runs.”
“At No. 3, I am keeping Vaibhav Suryavanshi. It happens once in a generation that a 14-year-old kid scores a hundred, and he didn’t stop there. He batted well after that too. I had a choice between Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. I am going with Vaibhav Suryavanshi,” he shared.
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However, Aakash Chopra also picked the PBKS duo of Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh to bat at No. 4 and No. 5 positions, respectively. He also chose MI’s Naman Dhir as the final specialist batter in his uncapped Indian IPL 2025 XI as well.
“At No. 4, I have Nehal Wadhera. Of course, the final knock wasn’t good, but the boy has played well regularly. He plays spin and pace well. He played a significant role in taking Punjab forward. Shashank also had a role. Even in the final, he hit three sixes and a four against Josh Hazlewood off the last four balls. Of course, he couldn’t win the match, but you remember his batting from the first match against GT, and then he kept playing important knocks. Shashank is my team’s captain,” Chopra further added.
“After that, I have kept Naman Dhir as well. He has batted extremely well. I feel if he had been batted slightly up the order, he would have made bigger contributions. He is a brilliant player,” he again shared.
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However, Aakash Chopra also picked Delhi Capitals’ Vipraj Nigam as a spin-bowling all-rounder in his uncapped Indian IPL 2025 XI as well. He also chose PBKS’ Harpreet Brar, who claimed 10 wickets in IPL 2025, as his second spinner as well.
“After that, I have chosen Vipraj Nigam. A phenomenal all-rounder. I felt he was the find of the tournament. He could be the earliest to play for India. He bowls leg-spin, bowls fast, the ball turns, bowls with courage, and in the powerplay and the middle overs. If you see his batting, his wrists work even on the off side. He has got that incredible skill and the temperament,” he said.
“After that, I am keeping Harpreet Brar. He bats and bowls. He didn’t play all the matches, but did well whenever he played. He consistently bowled at one spot. He picked up some big wickets as well. I remember him dismissing Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja,” Chopra shared. “After that, I have picked three pacers. One is Yash Dayal. He won the team the final. He has been good. He bowled back-of-the-hand slower balls and yorkers. He bowled in different phases.”
“Vijaykumar Vyshak – again, he took the team to the final. The first match against Sherfane Rutherford and brought the ball in very well in the final as well. He got less opportunities, and might have done better had he got more opportunities. I was thinking about Ashwani Kumar and Arshad Khan. I was thinking about Prince Yadav as well. Akash Singh also bowled well, but I have to go with Anshul Kamboj because he looks like a long-term prospect,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
Aakash Chopra’s uncapped Indian IPL 2025 XI:
Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Naman Dhir, Vipraj Nigam, Harpreet Brar, Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Anshul Kamboj
