Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has picked Rishabh Pant as the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) player with the greatest opportunity in IPL 2025 as well. He also added that Pant could return to India with stunning performances in the upcoming edition of the IPL, but urged him not to bat at the top of the order to compete with Sanju Samson as well. Notably, LSG acquired Pant for a massive ₹27 crore at the IPL 2025 auction last November and appointed him as their captain as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “Rishabh Pant has a big opportunity. Why am I saying that? He is not part of the T20 team. He is not even part of their scheme of things. People are surprised as to why such a strong player is unable to get set in T20s. So, this is your season, sir. Come and score so many runs so that everyone is shaken.”
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“Where he would bat would be a question. There are a lot of discussions that he would open as keepers are batting there. You don’t have to compete with Sanju. You have to make your own place properly. I would say there is no need to bat above No. 3 or No. 4. If you get a great start, come at No. 3, or else keep all three left-handers at four, five and six, and hit everyone,” Chopra again added.
Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra also stated that India’s current T20I side might see changes before next year’s T20 World Cup as well.
“There are two things. Firstly, take the team forward. Then you get recognized more as a captain. Secondly, if you score runs, you return to India reckoning. I am still not convinced that the T20 team playing currently will play next year as well. The T20 selections are going to be very dynamic. So this IPL will play a huge role in terms of who is moving forward and able to make his place again. So I see a huge opportunity for Rishabh Pant as a captain with a new franchise and as a batter,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
