"They would be praying that Nitish Kumar Reddy remains uncapped" - Aakash Chopra on SRH's potential retentions ahead of IPL 2025 auction

Aakash Chopra reckons the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) would hope that Nitish Kumar Reddy remains uncapped until October 31. It would then allow them to retain the seam-bowling all-rounder for ₹4 crore as an uncapped player.

Reddy has been picked in India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, starting on October 6. With Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube also being part of the Indian squad for the series, it remains to be seen if the Andhra Pradesh all-rounder is given a look-in.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that SRH might be wishing that Reddy doesn't get to play a game against Bangladesh.

"They would be praying that Nitish Kumar Reddy remains uncapped. They would be saying - 'Please don't play him in the T20I series'. Just like Harshit Rana, his name is also there in that team and if he gets a chance to play, he will also become capped," he said (6:50).

The former India opener reckons Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head should be SRH's preferred capped retentions.

"They have to firstly retain the captain and Abhishek Sharma. You have to retain Heinrich Klaasen and it's great if you can get Travis Head. These four names come to my mind, to begin with. Pat Cummins, since he is the captain, and he managed the team very well, you will want to retain him," Chopra observed (5:40).

Chopra added that Abhishek needs to be retained as he might go for an exorbitant amount at the auction.

"Abhishek Sharma is a no-brainer. If Abhishek Sharma goes into the auction, he can go from 10 to 18 crores, he can go to any amount. So retain him as well. Abhishek Sharma will be my second pick," he stated.

Abhishek was SRH's second-highest run-getter in IPL 2024. The left-handed opener smashed 484 runs at a strike rate of 204.21 in 16 innings.

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"If Travis Head or Heinrich Klaasen go into the auction, I don't think both of them will go for 14 crores" - Aakash Chopra on SRH's potential overseas batting retentions

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that the SunRisers Hyderabad should retain Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head, although neither might be sold for 14 crores at the auction.

"After that, Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head. If Travis Head or Heinrich Klaasen go into the auction, I don't think both of them will go for 14 crores, although I rate both of them very highly, especially Heinrich Klaasen. Ideally, if you can retain them, do that. Retain four players somehow, among which three will be overseas," he said (6:10).

Chopra opined that SRH could have a problem if they have three overseas players among their four retentions. He pointed out that the top Indian players will be sold at a premium price at the auction and they might not have enough money left to purchase them.