Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has picked five likely most expensive batters in the IPL 2025 auction as well. While talking about his choices of pure batters, he added that Shreyas Iyer could earn the highest among them as well. The IPL 2025 auction will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. While the Punjab Kings (₹110.50 crore) have the highest available
budget, the Rajasthan Royals (₹41 crore) have the least remaining purse as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “I have kept Nitish Rana at No. 5. It was a viable choice for KKR to retain him but he wasn’t. Every team apart from Mumbai needs Indian players. Maybe Rajasthan is in a decent position. Everyone needs Indian batters. So Nitish Rana’s value increases. He has been playing for a long time, has been KKR’s captain, and plays decently.”
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“Devon Conway at No. 4. I understand he is also in the wicketkeeper’s category but no one sees him as a wicketkeeper. Everyone considers him a batter. I feel Chennai might want to use the Right to Match card for Conway. It could be Devon Conway/David Miller (at No. 4). I feel Conway should probably get more money between him and David Miller. At No. 3, I have got Venkatesh Iyer. He could be at No. 4 and Conway might be at No. 3. His last year was very good. It would have been very difficult for KKR to release him as well. He opens and can play at No. 3 as well. He plays very well on good pitches,” Chopra further added.
In the same video, Aakash Chopra also picked Jake Fraser-McGurk as the likely most expensive overseas batter at the auction, saying that the Delhi Capitals and the Punjab Kings might be the most interested in acquiring him as well.
“At No. 2, I have kept Jake Fraser-McGurk. Delhi would have wanted him to stay back. So why didn’t he stay? A very important aspect is that the player can say he wants to go. Ricky Ponting used to be here and has gone to Punjab. He has a purse of ₹110 crore. Delhi have the RTM card and Punjab have a lot of money. Both teams will be interested in him. At No. 1, I don’t think there is any doubt in anybody’s mind. It has to be Shreyas Iyer. He was the captain of the winning team last time. I don’t think he will get ₹20 crore but he will definitely go in double digits because a lot of people will be interested in him,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
