Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed shock over Rajasthan Royals (RR) determination to retain Shimron Hetmyer forward of Jos Buttler for the IPL 2025 season.
Aakash Chopra additionally said that the Jaipur-based franchise cannot use a “Proper to Match” card to reacquire Jos Buttler on the mega public sale.
Rajasthan Royals have retained six gamers forward of the upcoming mega public sale, which is about to happen on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. They retained skipper Sanju Samson as their first decide for Rs 18 crore. Yashasvi Jaiswal additionally signed a contract with RR for a deal of Rs 18 crore.
They retained Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel for Rs 14 crore every and Sandeep Sharma as an ‘uncapped’ participant for Rs 4 crore earlier than the public sale. Nonetheless, they stunned followers by retaining just one abroad participant, Shimron Hetmyer, for Rs 11 crore. Jos Buttler wasn’t retained regardless of his spectacular outings.
Rajasthan Royals Had A Lot Of Gamers To Be Retained – Aakash Chopra
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra mentioned that Rajasthan Royals’ retention of Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal was anticipated, however the selection of different retained gamers raised some eyebrows. Chopra identified that RR had a number of gamers accessible for retention.
“Rajasthan Royals was a group that had numerous gamers to be retained. Whoever they’d have left would have been sad. There are questions for certain. The three names that appeared would positively keep included Sanju Samson, who’s the captain, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. It was identified that these two would 100% keep,” Chopra mentioned.
What Is The Logic? – Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator questioned the logic behind retaining Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag over Jos Buttler. Chopra said that RR doesn’t have a Proper to Match (RTM) possibility for Buttler within the upcoming public sale.
“It was assumed that Riyan Parag would additionally keep and he stayed as nicely, though you thought Jos Buttler can be retained earlier than Riyan Parag. Jos wasn’t retained and Shimron Hetmyer was retained. What’s the logic? You let Jos Buttler go and you do not have an RTM left as nicely,” Chopra added.
Jos Buttler Is Their World Model Ambassador – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra highlighted that Jos Buttler performed match-winning performances for the Rajasthan Royals regardless of not being in peak kind over the past two years.
Chopra identified that Buttler is a worldwide model ambassador for the franchise and performs with their sister group, Paarl Royals.
“I admit that Jos Buttler’s final two years have not been that good however when he performed badly, he scored two centuries, and each in profitable causes. Every time Jos does nicely, he wins the match, however they let him go. It looks as if Jos is their international model ambassador. He performs for them for the Paarl Royals as nicely. So that you assumed this partnership would proceed. I used to be very stunned they let Jos go,” Chopra mentioned.
Jos Buttler scored 359 runs in 11 innings in IPL 2024 at a median of 39.89, together with two centuries. Buttler joined RR in 2018 and scored 3,055 runs in 83 matches at a median of 41.28 and a strike charge of 147.79, together with 18 fifties and 7 centuries. RR has a restricted finances of ₹41 crore for the public sale.
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