Is KL Rahul a likely prospect to succeed MS Dhoni at CSK? Aakash Chopra explains

The anticipation for the IPL 2025 mega auction is at an all-time high, with just a few days remaining for the action to hit the floors. The mega auction is scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, with Mallika Sagar returning as the auctioneer for the high-stakes event. Speculations are hitting the headlines in bulk, amplified by the fact that the auction pool this time contains some of the biggest names in the league. Former captains like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer have entered the auction to find their best match for the upcoming season. Amidst the speculations and calculations, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has advised CSK to go for KL Rahul.

"CSK should go behind KL Rahul in the IPL 2025 mega auction": Aakash Chopra opines

KL Rahul was, as expected, released by LSG ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. After three seasons in the league, where Rahul led the franchise into the playoffs, the management, owned by Sanjeev Goenka, released the seasoned Indian. Now, Rahul, who has previously led Punjab Kings, is out to find a new franchise in the league that offers a ‘light environment’ and ‘freedom’ to him. At this point, Rahul could go anywhere. Punjab Kings, who have the biggest purse for the mega auction, are on the lookout for a leading candidate. Moreover, Delhi Capitals and the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, are displaying similar needs ahead of the auction. However, the buzz is strongest for KL Rahul to be roped in by his home team, RCB, for the next season, with the franchise boasting the second-highest purse.

However, commentator and former player Aakash Chopra has registered contrasting views about the 32-year-old player. Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings retained MS Dhoni under the uncapped player criteria for IPL 2025. Moreover, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who succeeded Dhoni as the team captain in IPL 2024, is the top retention. While Gaikwad is likely to continue as the skipper of the side, Aakash Chopra highlighted that CSK might be looking for wicketkeeping prospects who can succeed Dhoni in the team when the time demands. However, with Rishabh Pant also available to bag, Chopra advised the five-time champions to go for KL Rahul in the mega auction.

To support his suggestion, Chopra referred to the well-known template associated with CSK. The former player noted that, with KL Rahul in his thirties and not in his best form, he fits the bill to be a Chennai player perfectly. Bringing logic into his argument, Chopra highlighted the purse available for CSK in the mega auction and pointed out the players who should be on the team’s target list.

"What do they need? I feel they need a successor to Dhoni, a wicketkeeper-batter, and it's great if they get an Indian. Everyone is saying it, and let me also say—he is more than 30 years old, is going to be a father very soon, and everyone has written him off as well, so he is right for Chennai, that's KL Rahul. So they will definitely go for KL Rahul," Aakash Chopra said.

"We can't say for how long they will go, but they will try to acquire him because the franchise still has Rs 55 crore to be spent. So if they can get an Indian like him, Ishan Kishan, or Rishabh Pant for Rs 10-15 crore, they are going to try. They might think about Shreyas Iyer for some time because they will need Indian batters to bat in those conditions," he added.

For IPL 2025, Chennai retained Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesa Pathirana, and MS Dhoni in the squad. The team will enter the mega auctions with Rs 55 crore in their purse and a RTM card. CSK is likely to use their right-to-match card to reclaim their opening prospect, Devon Conway. However, with their purse value, it will be exciting to see if Chennai can afford the players that Chopra has lined up for them.