Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has openly criticized Suryakumar Yadav’s poor batting form over the past few months. The Indian captain has managed only 119 runs in his last 10 T20I innings, with an average of 13.22, a phase that Chopra believes Suryakumar must overcome given his importance to the team.

Chopra said skippers do not reduce their consciousness to make runs, especially as a top-order batsman. He also explained that it is not only about managing tactics and leading your team on the field but a whole lot more; additionally, consistent run scoring should be expected from anyone batting within the top four batting order.

The former India opener also raised concerns about Suryakumar’s lack of big scores in recent times. With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin on February 7, Chopra feels that the Indian captain’s form in the shortest format is becoming a serious concern.

Chopra Calls for Runs From India’s Top Order

“You are the team's captain, but a captain's job is not just to do the toss and manage the bowlers. It's not just about making the strategy. If you bat in the top four, your primary role is to score runs. It's been many matches. If you have an average of 14 in 17 innings and the strike rate is also not very good, you don't have a single fifty and have crossed 25 just twice, it's been a problem on either side of the IPL,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

See Also: David Warner advises Sam Konstas to stay grounded amid rising hype ahead of BBL 2025–26

Chopra also spoke about the struggles of vice-captain and opener Shubman Gill, who has also found it tough in the T20 format. Gill has scored just four runs, including a duck, in the first two matches of the ongoing five-match series against South Africa. Chopra said that both senior batters need to step up before the World Cup. “If you are playing at No. 3 or No. 4 and are not scoring runs, and they aren't being scored consistently and over a long period of time, you won't be that confident when you start the [T20] World Cup. So, Suryakumar Yadav, the captain, and Shubman Gill, the vice-captain, scoring runs is absolutely imperative,” he added.

India are currently playing a five-match T20I series against South Africa, where both Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill have struggled so far. The pair have scored only 21 runs across four innings in the first two matches. The third T20I will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on December 14, and India will be hoping for a turnaround from their key batters in the remaining games.

A few weeks ago, Zee Studios in Pakistan had produced a documentary on the Pakistan opening batter, Sahibzada Farhan, titled ‘Hero in the Making’, highlighting the Asia Cup 2025 performance of the right-handed batter, who became the very first batter of world cricket to smash a six in T20I cricket against the premier Indian pacer, Jasprit Bumrah.

The film places special emphasis on the three sixes against Bumrah. The 29-year-old smashed a fine knock of 57 runs during the final of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium before playing two more sensational knocks of 63 and an unbeaten 80 runs against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe later in the home T20I side.

See Also: Twitter Reactions: Hardik Pandya celebrates 25-ball fifty during IND vs SA 1st T20I

The former Indian opener and the renowned commentator, Aakash Chopra, decided to go after Farhan for the documentary during the live commentary of the opening T20I between India and South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Chopra claimed, “Bumrah ko chakka maarna aasan nhi h agar kuch log maar le toh documentary bhi bana lete h.”

Watch: Aakash Chopra laughs at Sahibzada Farhan’s documentary during IND vs SA 1st T20I

Overall in 35 innings of the T20I cricket, Farhan has smashed 857 runs at an average of 25.20 and a strike rate of 128.48 with the help of seven half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 80 runs. In 139 T20 innings, he has scored 4355 runs at a strike rate of 137.03, with six centuries and 28 half-centuries.

Watch the video here:

Aakash Chopra ka hesitation: ‘Bhai chakka laga… par itna content nahi tha ki documentary ban jaaye!’ 😅🏏”#INDvsSA #Akashvani @cricketaakash pic.twitter.com/A8dB08tbhB

— Ajinkya Karale (@oyeaju24) December 9, 2025

In the Cuttack T20I, India posted a massive score of 175/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Hardik Pandya slammed a fine unbeaten knock of 59 runs in 28 balls at a strike rate of 210.71 with the help of six boundaries and four sixes, while the other batters struggled in the middle for a strike rate of around 110.

The Proteas were bundled out for 74 in just 12.3 overs. All of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy picked up four wickets each, while Pandya and Shivam Dube had one wicket each. India clinched a 101-run victory to go 1-0 up in the series.

The former star opening batter of the Kolkata Knight Riders, Aakash Chopra, during a recent interview, has reflected on his experience of playing three years for the Kolkata Knight Riders at the start of the tournament. Chopra featured in six innings for the Knight Riders of the IPL, where he smashed 53 runs in six innings at an average of nine and a strike rate of 74.64. 

Chopra spoke about how passionately their owner, Shah Rukh Khan, had been involved in the process with the franchise. He reckoned that SRK was ‘emotionally invested and extremely involved’ in the franchise, as he also wanted to hire the best trainer, physio, and coaches for the side in the IPL. 

See Also: "Leave your ego..."- Sunil Gavaskar blasts at India's approach ahead of 2nd South Africa Test

“Sharukh is a sweetheart. I was there for three years, not much, but he used to run the franchise purely like a family. He was emotionally invested and extremely involved in the franchise, and that was the time when Venky Mysore wasn’t part of the side. When he bought the franchise, SRK said that he wanted the best coach, trainer, and physio of the world working for the KKR side.” Chopra expressed in a recent podcast.

Watch: Aakash Chopra calls Shah Rukh Khan ‘sweetheart’ in his involvement with KKR

Kolkata earned their maiden title of the IPL in 2012 when they beat the Chennai Super Kings before earning the same success two years later. Their recent trophy of the league came in 2024 when they beat the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.

Aakash Chopra on KKR’s early days :

🎙️SRK was running the team like family. This was before Venky Mysore’s arrival, so things used to be run professionally. The day he bought the team, he said he wanted everything to be the best (Coach, Trainer etc)pic.twitter.com/TDHKZurDE8

— KKR Karavan (@KkrKaravan) November 19, 2025

“Selection of the support staff was only up to him, but he later realized that it wasn’t that straightforward. We finished in the sixth position in the first season and eighth in the following year. But SRK was absolutely brilliant. That time, his presence was incredible in the team. If there is a brand of watch, SRK would say that the watches would be given even to the wives.” Chopra addressed.

“There is a laptop brand, and he would tell everyone to be given a laptop, and he would tell it standing on the table. That was the early part of the IPL, where everyone was trying to understand how things worked. No one was sure about anything regarding whether there were superstars and different players.” The former Indian opener shed light in the same video.

The former Indian opening batter, Aakash Chopra, has dropped a massive claim that their all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell, might not find any takers ahead of the IPL 2026 auction after being released by the Punjab Kings (PBKS). He added that the spin-bowling all-rounder might not then put his name in the auction. 

Maxwell was one of the five players released by the Punjab Kings ahead of the next Indian Premier League, along with Praveen Dubey, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, and Kuldeep Sen. In the recent video from the opening batter, Aakash Chopra, on his YouTube channel, he wondered if it was the end of Maxwell in IPL.

See Also: Watch: Rajasthan Royals reveals new head coach in special video ahead of IPL 2026

“They have said that they will let Maxwell go. Maxwell was for ₹4.20 crore. Mitchell Owen had come in his place. Mitchell Owen was retained, and Maxwell was let go. Is it the end of an era? Why am I saying it's an era? He has earned ₹101 crore from the IPL.” Chopra expressed in the video.

Aakash Chopra wonders about Glenn Maxwell's end ahead of IPL 2026

Maxwell has overall smashed 2819 runs in the 135 innings of the IPL at an average of 23.88 and a strike rate of 155.14 with the help of 18 half-centuries at the best score of 95. In the last two seasons, he got 100 runs in 23 innings.

“I don't grudge anybody's money. I want them to make ₹100 crore in one season. Players should get that kind of money because it's a multi-billion-dollar league. It's possible someone could be interested, and it's also possible no one could be interested. He might put his name, or he might not even put his name. So that's going to be an interesting one.” Chopra addressed.

“They don't need to buy much. They can find a middle-order batter because Josh Inglis is going. They could maybe look towards Cooper Connolly, and if they could get a backup pacer, and that's about it. They don't need too much. An Indian backup spinner and an overseas backup pacer with Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, and Marco Jansen. They are a good team, and they have the money.” The former Indian opener concluded.

South Africa takes a 1-0 lead in the ongoing 2-match Test series against India (IND vs SA), the home team. Temba Bavuma and his boys won the first match at the Eden Gardens by a 30-run margin. Captain Shubman Gill was ruled out of the match because of the neck injury he received during India's first innings batting. In the absence of Gill, Rishabh Pant was the stand-in skipper for India. How was his performance as the captain on Day 3 of the 1st Test?

South Africa was in a tight situation when they started batting on Day 3. Bavuma and Corbin Bosch were on the crease for South Africa to start the day. To take the remaining three wickets of South Africa, Pant decided to go with Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah in the initial stage of the day. It was Bumrah who got the breakthrough. 

Before the dismissal of Bosch, South Africa was rotating their strikes easily. Bavuma and Bosch were dealing with quick singles and doubles. On the challenging track of Eden Gardens, South African batters opted to sneak for singles instead of going for big shots. That singles and doubles slowly but surely helped the WTC champions to increase their lead. 

Read More: Simon Harmer dismisses Ravindra Jadeja after dismissing Rishabh Pant in IND vs SA 1st Test

Aakash Chopra criticised Rishabh Pant for defensive approach

India had to chase down a target of 124 in the second innings to win the first match of the series. Could a target be reduced? A former India opener, now a cricket expert, showed that because of Rishabh Pant's defensive approach as a captain, South Africa was able to get some extra runs through running between the wickets. 

Watch Akash Chopra Exposing Rishabh Pant’s captaincy for straight 2 minutes🤡

Absolute Gold!! 🔥
pic.twitter.com/7BRpOWAz7b

— GillManiax (@GillManiax) November 16, 2025

Chopra criticized Pant for placing long-on and deep midfielders and allowing the batters to sneak some extra runs. The former cricketer believes that if Pant took those fielders close to the batters, into the circle, then he could put extra psychological pressure on the batters. Chopra pointed out that if the batters showed any intention to go against the spin, then those fielders near the boundary rope could be proved effective. But as the batters showed no signs of taking the Ariel route, the fielders at long and deep made very little sense. 

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has predicted the player who might become the most expensive buy at the upcoming IPL 2026 mini-auction. He believes Australia’s pace-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green could attract the highest bid. Green was already one of the most sought-after players during the IPL 2023 auction, with teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Delhi Capitals (DC) fighting to sign him.

Eventually, Mumbai Indians bought him for a huge ₹17.5 crore, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history at the time. Chopra feels that Green could again be in high demand and might turn out to be the costliest buy of the 2026 mini-auction. He wrote on X, “Cameron Green—the most expensive buy at the auction.”

The IPL 2026 retention deadline is on November 15, and the mini-auction is expected to take place in December. With his ability to perform well with both bat and ball, Green is likely to attract strong interest from several teams.

Cameron Green’s IPL Career So Far

Cameron Green created ripples in the 2023 IPL with his all-round talent. The right-hander playing for Mumbai Indians scored 452 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 160.28, hitting one century and two fifties. He also hit one century and two fifties. As a bowler, he took six wickets in 16 innings, although his economy rate was on the higher side at 9.50. After the 2023 season, Green was traded to RCB in an all-cash deal.

See Also: Watch: Harmanpreet Kaur receives grand welcome in Chennai ahead of school felicitation for World Cup 2025 win

For RCB, he scored 255 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 143.25 and picked up 10 wickets from 13 innings with an improved economy rate of 8.61. He missed the 2025 mega auction due to injury. Internationally, Green has played 21 T20Is for Australia, scoring 521 runs and taking 12 wickets, proving his value as a strong all-rounder.

If the current reports are true, then Sanju Samson, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL, is expected to be traded to the Delhi Capitals, ahead of the 2026 auction with the speculations being made that Tristan Stubbs could move to the Capitals as the trade. The Kerala batter, who commands a huge price of INR 18 crore, requested his franchise to release him ahead of the auction.

Some of the other franchises, including Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Capitals are monitoring the situation closely. The former Indian star, Aakash Chopra, reckoned that the Knight Riders would be interested in the all-cash deal.

See Also: "Limited games..."- India's bowling coach Morne Morkel reflects on Arshdeep Singh's absence in first two AUS vs IND T20Is

“It seems like Sanju won't stay there. However, if you are leaving an ₹18 crore player, you need an equally good quality player. If Rajasthan want to release Sanju, which team can give someone in return? KKR will be extremely interested in an all-cash deal. Delhi won't mind, although you also have to release ₹18 crore for Sanju to come into your side.” Chopra expressed on his YouTube video.

Aakash Chopra analyses Sanju Samson and other trades ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Chopra shed light on how KKR could handle the finances a little better. The three-time champions were expected to sign KL Rahul, who could pass the role of their captain, opener, and wicket-keeper, but that deal isn’t expected to happen. Samson could, however, take Rahul’s place.

“KKR won’t have that problem, because if they release Venkatesh Iyer, ₹18 crore will be released in a jiffy, and you can do an all-cash deal. However, other teams cannot do that so easily. Can Sanju Samson go towards CSK? There is a way to release money there as well. ₹18 crore can be released in a jiffy, but I don't know if that conversation is happening or not.” The former Delhi batter addressed.

“Delhi won't mind if Sanju Samson comes on their side because Sanju plays well on this ground. They can release Jake-Fraser McGurk if they get Sanju. Sanju will keep and open, and KL Rahul might open with him, but they cannot leave Tristan Stubbs.” The former opener analysed Delhi’s perspective.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra predicted early about the next possible big thing in the upcoming IPL 2026 mini auction. His prediction came during the 3rd ODI match between India and Australia (AUS vs IND 3rd ODI) at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Chopra picked up one of the eleven players from the current Australia playing combination, who can fetch a lot of attention during the mini auction. 

Team India stepped into the SCG after losing two matches back-to-back. Before the Sydney match, the ODI series was already captured by the home team, which makes the remaining match a dead rubber for them. But for India, it is a prestige fight. They have to win the match to save their reputations. 

For most of the series so far, bowlers were the ones who dominated the matches more. But there is a certain Australian all-rounder, who impressed Aakash Chopra the most. The Aussie all-rounder is none other than Cooper Connolly. The 22-year-old all-rounder has been promising in the series against a power-packed team in India. According to the former opener-turned cricket expert and commentator, Connolly can attract a lot of attention during the upcoming IPL mini auction. 

Read More: PCB invites bids for naming rights of Rawalpindi Stadium

22-year-old Australian allrounder to become next big thing in IPL?

"Cooper Connnolly is going to attract a lot of attention in the IPL Mini-Auction," Chopra said this through his social media post. 

Cooper Connnolly is going to attract a lot of attention in the IPL Mini-Auction
💰 💰💰

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 25, 2025

The Perth-born batting all-rounder has quickly climbed the ladder to represent the Australia cricket team. During the second match of the ongoing series, he played an unbeaten 61-run knock against India for a winning cause. In the third match, when Australia went to bat first on a fresh wicket with some grass, their middle order was lacking confidence. Connolly then showed his skills and resilience and added 23 important runs to help his team to register a fightable total on the board. 

DLS played a vital role in the India vs Australia 1st ODI match in Perth. Due to rain, the 50-over match was cut short, and in the end, it was a clinical win for the home side. Team India found no match to counter the Aussie game plan. After the match, where Australia won by 7 wickets, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra raised a serious issue—the DLS. 

Whenever the number of overs of a match is reduced, the DLS method is used to find a winner of the match. With the method, the actual number of overs and the target total are revised. Is the process accurate enough to conclude a match? It has been a long-standing question for years. According to Chopra, the time has arrived to review the method. 

"Australia ends India’s 8-match winning streak in ODI. Australia was indeed a better side on the day, but DLS needs a serious relook," Aakash Chopra wrote in this 'X' post. 

Read More: IND vs AUS 1st ODI: 'Team India should drop...'- Irfan Pathan on live show advises BCCI to drop Shreyas Iyer

Australia ends India’s 8-match winning streak in ODI.
Australia were indeed a better side on the day but DLS needs a serious relook. #AusvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 19, 2025

Why did Aakash Chopra criticize the DLS method? 

Because of repeated rain interruption, the match on Sunday was reduced to only 26 overs. When Australia went to bat in the second innings, they had a reduced total of 131 runs in front of them because of the DLS formula, while India scored 136 runs in 26 overs in the first innings. Though Australia won the match as the most deserving side of the evening. 

Apart from Axar Patel (31) and KL Rahul (38), no other Indian batter was able to touch the 20-run mark on an individual basis. Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Owen, and Matthew Kuhnemann claimed a brace each. Captain Mitchell Marsh (46*) guided his team to a comfortable win from the front. Josh Philippe (37) and Matt Renshaw (21*) provided him the required support. The Indian bowling lineup without Jasprit Bumrah was not able to do enough to trouble the chasing side. 

As India prepares to face off against Australia in the first ODI of a three-match series at Optus Stadium, Perth, former cricketer Aakash Chopra has released his predicted India XI with some surprising selections. This match will signal the beginning of Shubman Gill’s era of captaincy in ODIs, as the national team begins its process of building a new core for the 2027 World Cup (in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe).

Chopra believes that India will go for experience at the top, naming Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the openers, with Virat Kohli in at 3. With the middle order consisting of Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain and KL Rahul as first-choice wicketkeeper, this means that young Yashasvi Jaiswal will likely miss out on the opening match.

With Hardik Pandya unavailable due to injury, Chopra suggested taking a chance on Nitish Kumar Reddy in the lower middle order. To maintain balance, he named Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as spin-bowling all-rounders, which surprisingly drops Kuldeep Yadav from the XI, despite his superb performance in the Asia Cup 2025, where he was the tournament's leading wicket-taker after taking 17 wickets.

Who makes the cut in @cricketaakash's playing XI for India’s 1st ODI vs Australia? 🤔

What’s your take? Tell us your ideal XI in the comments! 👇✍️#AUSvIND 👉🏻 1st ODI | SUN, 19th OCT on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/QKfuQqwuRp

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 15, 2025

See Also: [WATCH] “Good friendship…”- Yashasvi Jaiswal shares bond with Shubman Gill and his leadership

Chopra's Take on Bowlers and Team Balance

Chopra asserted that they only missed out on Kuldeep to add depth to India's batting and keep the option open for changes on a fast wicket in Perth. He added that Axar and Washington could bat and provide some control in the middle overs, which could be extremely valuable in Australian conditions.

On the bowling side, with Jasprit Bumrah rested, Chopra opted for a pace attack of Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and the newly introduced Harshit Rana—who had recently been defended by head coach Gautam Gambhir after critics questioned the team selection.  Prasidh Krishna will be sitting on the bench for the opening match of the series.

Aakash Chopra's predicted XI:

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.