ircrehab.com – News Features & Broad Perspectives

Former India opener Aakash Chopra defended young pacer Harshit Rana against online backlash for his repeated selection in Indian squads. Chopra urged fans to direct criticism at selectors, not the player, emphasising Rana's potential and the team management's faith in him. He called for patience and perspective, reminding fans that Rana is a young cricketer pursuing his dream.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra advised against preparing rank turner pitches for the upcoming Test series against West Indies, warning they could be counterproductive by reducing the competitive gap. He advocated for balanced surfaces that allow matches to progress naturally over four to five days, noting how extreme pitches have negatively impacted senior Indian batsmen's confidence and performance.

Aakash Chopra has voiced concerns over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's absence from the India A vs Australia A one-day series, suggesting they should have participated to regain match rhythm after a long break. Chopra believes selectors likely consulted the senior players, who may have declined, potentially impacting their future performances due to lack of match practice.

As the Asia Cup 2025 approaches, debate intensifies over India's wicketkeeper. Aakash Chopra favors Sanju Samson, citing his impressive top-order T20 record with over 6,000 runs at a 140 strike rate. Samson's recent explosive form, including centuries against Bangladesh and South Africa, strengthens his case.

Amidst speculation about India's next ODI captain, Aakash Chopra has dismissed rumors linking Shreyas Iyer to the role. Chopra asserts that Shubman Gill is the likely successor to Rohit Sharma, already holding vice-captaincy in ODIs and leading in Tests. Gill's rise has also shifted Axar Patel from T20 vice-captaincy, solidifying Gill's position as the heir apparent for India's white-ball leadership.

Aakash Chopra has ignited controversy by questioning RCB's influence on Rajat Patidar's captaincy in domestic cricket. Mo Bobat revealed he encouraged Patidar to seek leadership roles at the state level, leading to his appointment as Madhya Pradesh captain. Chopra found it questionable for IPL franchises to 'nudge' players into domestic captaincy roles, sparking debate about the ethics of such influence.

Despite Shreyas Iyer's impressive performances in the ICC Champions Trophy, IPL, and domestic red-ball season, Aakash Chopra suggests a Test call-up isn't imminent. Chopra highlights that players like Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel are ahead in the queue.