Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has picked the five likely most expensive seamers at the IPL 2025 auction. Mohammed Siraj, who was part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup winning squad, failed to make his list. Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Yash Dayal, Sandeep Sharma, Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan are the six specialist Indian pace bowlers who have been retained by their respective franchises as well. Pat Cummins and Matheesha Pathirana are the only overseas fast bowlers retained ahead of the auction as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “At No. 5, I have kept Kagiso Rabada’s name. Rabada will come at the start and be expensive as well. I feel he will take five to six crores at least. Mitchell Starc could also be there here. I don’t think Mitchell Starc will be among the top three.”
Aakash Chopra also added that Bhuvneshwar Kumar might be a ‘surprise package’ at the auction.
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“After that, at No. 4, I have got Bhuvneshwar Kumar. I feel Bhuvneshwar Kumar will earn a lot of money. His bowling is extremely consistent and he is a wonderful character. Everyone loves him a lot. I am putting him at No. 4, but don’t be surprised if he is at No. 3 or No. 2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will come as a slight surprise package,” he added. “At No. 3, I have kept Mohammed Shami. Two things go against him. One is his current fitness. It is debatable how the franchises are seeing him. He has played one match and will be playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well. However, one year is a long time. Age is also a factor.”
In the same video, Aakash Chopra also stated that Harshal Patel might be the second most expensive seamer at the auction.
“At No. 2, that’s a strange one because this is a mega auction but this guy will once again take a lot of money. His name is Harshal Patel. He was the ‘Purple’ Patel last year as well. Harshal Patel is a genuine wicket-taker. He bowls better at the death than many of the current Indian bowlers. At No. 1, I have kept Arshdeep Singh. There is no doubt about that. He can even go up to 18 crores. People are saying that a bowler might not get 18 crores, but he should get it. He might end up playing for Punjab one more time because they have a lot of money,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
