"Do they have anyone worth 18 crores?" - Aakash Chopra on Punjab Kings' potential retentions ahead of IPL 2025 auction

Aakash Chopra doesn't think the Punjab Kings (PBKS) have any player who should be retained for 18 crores ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. He also reckons the franchise will no longer have an England-heavy overseas contingent.

PBKS have never won the IPL title and reached the knockouts only twice. With Shikhar Dhawan announcing his retirement recently, they will have to look for a new full-time skipper for the upcoming edition of the tournament.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra questioned whether any Punjab Kings player is worth ₹18 crore.

"New coach, new thinking, new approach. If they go with that, will they want to retain anyone? Do they have anyone worth 18 crores? They have uncapped players but does Punjab have any capped players worthy of 18 crores?" he said (0:35).

The former India opener reckons Ricky Ponting's appointment as the franchise's head coach implies that Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes will likely be shown the exit door.

"They spent a lot of money on Sam Curran and retained him but Trevor Bayliss was there at that time. They had kept many English players. Now since Ricky Ponting has come, all English players will be made to stand next to the door. I feel Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes will all go," Chopra observed.

While acknowledging that the Punjab Kings might want to retain Arshdeep Singh, Chopra opined that using the Right To Match card for him would be a better option.

"I want to retain Arshdeep but I won't retain him for 18 crores. I will let him go as I have the Right to Match card in any case. I will use it later, however much he might be sold for. I don't think any Indian fast bowler will go for 18 crores at the mega auction unless he is Jasprit Bumrah, who won't come to the auction," he explained.

Arshdeep was PBKS' second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024, behind only Purple Cap winner Harshal Patel. The left-arm seamer accounted for 19 dismissals at an economy rate of 10.03 in 14 innings.

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"I will try to retain Shashank" - Aakash Chopra on the Punjab Kings' potential uncapped retentions

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that the Punjab Kings might consider retaining two among Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh and Ashutosh Sharma as uncapped Indians.

"I will try to retain Shashank. He is an uncapped Indian. You will get him for four crores. I can think about Prabhsimran Singh. He is also an uncapped Indian whom you will get for four crores. If I think about Ashutosh, you can retain only two uncapped players," he said (8:40).

Apart from two uncapped retentions, Chopra urged the Punjab Kings to wipe the slate clean and build a team afresh. He added that the IPL 2014 finalists will be party poopers for the other franchises at the auction if they go with that approach.