Aakash Chopra, former Indian opening batsman turned commentator has picked six players drafted by different franchises for IPL 2021 whose recent performances should excite their respective IPL franchises.
He named the players in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
Aakash Chopra Picks Devdutt Padikkal, Prithvi Shaw, And Suryakumar Yadav As Indian Batsmen Whose Recent Forms Will Delight Respective Franchises In IPL
The cricketer-turned-commentator noted that opener Devdutt Padikkal’s consistent performances in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy will delight the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is the leading run-scorer with 572 runs at a staggering average of 190.67 playing only 5 games in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“I will talk about Devdutt Padikkal first. He is the future of Indian cricket and RCB’s present. He is in absolutely red-hot form. He has scored three consecutive hundreds in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His lowest score in the last five games is 52. He is definitely going to open for RCB. I am pretty sure RCB is looking at his form very closely and India is also looking at it very closely because he is a long-term prospect,” said Aakash Chopra.
Prithvi Shaw @ AFP Tweeted By ICC
Aakash Chopra believes Prithvi Shaw who scored a tournament-record score of an unbeaten 227 in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, will hold the Delhi Capitals and the diminutive opener in good stead. Prithvi Shaw didn’t have a good tour to Australia earlier in 2020-21 where the gap between his bat and pad was exposed.
“The second player I want to talk about is Prithvi Shaw. It seems like he is hurt because of not being considered for the Indian team. He scored a double-century in a List A game as a captain. He scored 227 not out off 152 balls, that’s a stellar performance. The Delhi Capitals will be happy and from his point of view, it is important that he scores runs,” observed Chopra.
The former KKR player feels the Mumbai Indians will be pleased with Suryakumar Yadav’sconsistent performances.
“My third player is Suryakumar Yadav. He is an outstanding player. He scored 133 in just 58 balls and scored another fifty as well. His Vijay Hazare numbers are not that bad. Even in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was pulling his weight in the side and now he is a part of the Indian cricket team. He is consistently performing and trying to break the door down,” added Aakash Chopra.
Suryakumar Yadav scored 512 runs, 424 runs, and 480 runs respectively in IPL 2018,2019 and 2020. His average was also above 30 every time for Mumbai Indians after a modest outing for Kolkata Knight Riders from 2014 to 2017. He returned to Mumbai Indians in 2018 after a short stint from 2011-2013. His impressive show in IPL saw him being inducted in India’s squad for 5 T20Is against England.
Aakash Chopra: Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Santner, And Jimmy Neesham’s Performances In Ongoing Australia-New Zealand T20I Series Will Delight Franchises
Aakash Chopra believes the Delhi Capitals franchise will be ecstatic after seeing all-rounder Marcus Stoinis’ swashbuckling knock for Australia in the second T20I against New Zealand.
“At No.4, I am keeping Marcus Stoinis. He is one of the most improved all-rounders in the recent times. He is pulling his weight in the side and how. He scored 78 off 37 balls, he demolished the opposition team. DC must be very excited because he is a very good acquisition,” said Chopra.
The 43-year-old reckons Mitchell Santner’s spell of 4/31 in the same Australia-New Zealand encounter should make his franchise Chennai Super Kings happy.
“Next in my list is Mitchell Santner who took 4 wickets. It was a high-scoring encounter but this player did his job. Chennai Super Kings must be excited because they have let go of a few spinners. He might just slip into their playing XI very often,” observed Aakash Chopra.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 26: Jimmy Neesham of New Zealand during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 26, 2019 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Andy Kearns/Getty Images)
Aakash Chopra signed off by stating that Jimmy Neesham’s destructive knock and match-winning final over would have thrilled the Mumbai Indians.
“Last but not the least, Jimmy Neesham. He smashed 45 not out off 16 balls including four consecutive sixes. Mumbai Indians have acquired him at base price. He will not play at the start but eventually there is a possibility he might play because of the balance,” concluded Chopra.
Australian Marcus Stoinis scored 78 runs in the 2nd T20I while New Zealand’s Jimmy Neesham scored a breezy 45 in the 2nd T20I after a quick 26 in the 1st T20I. In the 2nd T20I, Mitchell Santner returned with figures of 4/31.
Besides the aforementioned players, the performances of Krunal Pandya, Robin Uthappa, Siddharth Kaul, and Dhawal Kulkarni in the Vijay Hazare Trophy would delight their respective franchises.
