Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has shared a couple of changes in the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) playing XI for their IPL 2025 match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) as well. He added that they need to drop Sam Curran, saying that the all-rounder has been found wanting with both ball and bat as well. Notably, CSK will play against RR in Match 11 of IPL 2025 in Guwahati in the evening game on Sunday, March 30 as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “You need to correct your XI because you are showing a lot of faith in Sam Curran, but the guy is not playing well. Let’s be very, very honest. He is neither able to bowl nor bat, and it’s not just now. He hasn’t been able to do so for quite some time. His stocks have gone down massively. Play both Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. Conway, Rachin and Ruturaj Gaikwad are your top three. Play only one of Deepak Hooda and Rahul Tripathi. Keep (Shivam) Dube at No. 5. If you are batting first, put Vijay Shankar in the team at No. 6, and then Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) at No. 7 and MS (Dhoni) at No. 8.”
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However, Aakash Chopra also stated that the Rajasthan Royals need to correct their playing XI and batting order for their IPL 2025 match against the Chennai Super Kings as well.
“Rajasthan will firstly have to pick their XI properly. I was very disappointed in the last match that Shubham Dubey’s name wasn’t in the XI. Shubham Dubey should be in the XI if you are batting first. Then you brought him as the Impact Player and sent him above Shimron Hetmyer. Hetmyer at No. 8, it does not make sense at all,” he said.
“Jofra Archer has conceded more than 100 runs in less than seven overs and is still wicketless. So, can Fazalhaq Farooqi be played? Whichever way you look at it, Rajasthan’s bowling is looking weak. Speak to the curator and get an absolutely flat pitch made because Chennai will trap you if the pitch is even slightly spin-friendly,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
