Former India opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for buying Rilee Rossouw for a massive amount at the IPL 2024 auction even though he might not get to play much in their playing XI. PBKS spent ₹8 crore to buy Rossouw at the auction last year. They bought a total of eight players for ₹24.95 crore, with Harshal Patel (₹11.75 crore) and Chris Woakes (₹4.20 crore) being their other big-players as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “They let Rilee Rossouw go at the start but later broke the bank for him. A very interesting pick. He played an odd good knock last year, one was against them only actually. I remember it was a match against Delhi, Rilee Rossouw was batting and they gave the 20th over to Harpreet Brar. Rilee smashed him, so they probably kept him as he won’t be able to hit their players if he is in their team. Rilee Rossouw for eight crores – how will they make a place for him? Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Nathan Ellis, Kagiso Rabada, Sam Curran – it will be difficult to make a place for him.”

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However, Aakash Chopra said that Chris Woakes might also not be useful for PBKS in their conditions as well, saying that the England all-rounder is expected to help a little in Mohali. He also added that the Punjab Kings needed an Indian seam-bowling partner for Arshdeep Singh as well.

“They had an Indian fast bowler in the form of Arshdeep (Singh) but apart from him, all their fast bowlers were overseas, whether it was Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis or Sam Curran. So they needed a partner for Arshdeep who could provide some help in the death overs or with the new ball,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Although I like their overseas recruits – Rabada and Nathan Ellis – a lot, it’s not the right thing if you are forced to play both of them with Sam Curran. So they bought Harshal Patel for 11.75 crores. They were committed, they said they wanted this player at any cost.”