Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra is unsure whether the Gujarat Titans will be able to play Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad together in IPL 2024. Rashid claimed 27 wickets in 17 games at an economy rate of 8.23 in the Titans’ run to the final in IPL 2023 as well. Noor did 16 dismissals which came at an economy rate of 7.82 in 13 matches last season.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Gujarat have a ‘Karamati’ Khan named Rashid Khan. He is absolutely outstanding. His injury would be fine by the time IPL comes. Then they have a bowler named Noor Ahmad. Both of them play in the XI for sure these days. However, will Shami’s absence make a difference? Will they not be able to play two overseas spinners because of Hardik leaving? It is going to be a slight toss-up. They might have to compromise a spinner.”

Chopra also added that the Titans might be forced to play Spencer Johnson in Shami’s absence alongside an additional overseas middle-order batter as Hardik has left as well. However, he said that the IPL 2022 champions have two very good Indian spin-bowling options in R Sai Kishore and Jayant Yadav as well.

“Delhi aren’t able to play three spinners and if they do, the third one gets hit nine out of 10 times. They have an eight-over bank in Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, which is very, very good,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Kuldeep Yadav is a legit wicket-taker and Axar Patel can bowl even with the new ball. Their third spinner becomes a little weak link. They get Lalit Yadav to bowl at times and bring Pravin Dubey on other occasions. The third spinner has always been an issue.”