"My personal vote would have been for Cameron Green" - Aakash Chopra on RCB's potential second retention ahead of IPL 2025 auction

Aakash Chopra reckons the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) second retention ahead of the IPL 2025 auction should ideally be Cameron Green, with Virat Kohli being the first. He claimed that the Australian all-rounder can be an asset for the franchise with both bat and ball.

RCB traded in Green from the Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. His all-round contributions helped the franchise reach the playoffs this season after a disastrous start to their campaign.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Kohli and Green should be RCB's preferred first two capped retentions.

"Without a shadow of doubt, the first retention for 18 crores has to be Virat Kohli. Just like MSD and CSK are synonyms, RCB is equal to Kohli, it's the same. This player has never changed his franchise. So first retention, 18 crores, done," he said (2:30).

"For the second retention, my personal vote would have been for Cameron Green. The ground you have and the type of skills he has, I will start making him open, and he will give me overs as well. He has a fantastic future ahead of him and he is a gun player," the former India opener added.

However, Chopra pointed out that Green's injury issues could force the franchise to think otherwise.

"He deserves to be retained for 14 crores. I will say you should keep him. If you play him all matches, he will win you at least three matches. However, there is an injury concern. There is an ongoing back issue and there is a question whether he will be able to play the Border-Gavaskar Trophy also or not. So that becomes a bit of an issue, or else Cameron Green would be my second choice," he elaborated.

Green amassed 255 runs at a strike rate of 143.25 in 12 innings in IPL 2024. He also picked up 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.61 in 35.1 overs.

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"Rajat Patidar in 11 crores is not a bad deal" - Aakash Chopra on RCB's potential 3rd retention

In the same video, Aakash Chopra suggested that Rajat Patidar should be RCB's third retention, assuming they keep Cameron Green as the second.

"My third choice will be Rajat Patidar. I will say you should retain him because he has done well for RCB and has also changed their fortunes. When you go into the auction, you won't find Indian batters. Only one or two might come, so you will have to retain Indian batters. Rajat Patidar in 11 crores is not a bad deal," he reasoned (3:40).

The cricketer-turned-commentator reckons the three-time finalists shouldn't retain anyone among Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep, especially as the fourth retention.

"I will stop there for capped players. I am not thinking about Faf du Plessis. I am not thinking about Glenn Maxwell. In fact, since the next retention will be for 18 crores, I am not thinking about Siraj as well. Let him go. Akash Deep - let him go," Chopra observed.

Chopra named Yash Dayal as an uncapped player RCB should look to retain. While pointing out that Anuj Rawat is also an option, he added that the franchise would hope Dayal doesn't make his Test debut before October 31.