Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked Lucknow Super Giants as the franchise which might be interested in picking West Indies captain Shai Hope in IPL 2027 mini auction. The former Delhi cricketer believes Hope can bat in the top order for LSG if they decide to release Nicholas Pooran.
Hope has been in terrific form in the ongoing T20I series against India. The WI opener scored a fine fifty in the series opener and he backed it up with a brilliant century in the second game.
Hope scored a majestic knock of 102 runs off just 45 balls with the help of six fours and nine sixes in the run-chase of 250.
“He was with DC and used to get a chance to bat in the middle order. That is not his ideal number. I see him as an opener. Which franchise needs a keeper-opener? Since the Lucknow Super Giants have let Rishabh Pant go, and if Nicholas Pooran also leaves, say you want to trade Hardik Pandya, the Lucknow Super Giants could be a team,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“He can keep, bat, and might get a chance to bat at the top of the order because they haven’t made (Aiden) Markram open consistently. So if Shai Hope can be seen at No. 3, or if Shai Hope opens and Markram comes at No. 3, if they try to make a setup like that, I see that as one place,” he added.
The former KKR batter believes Gujarat Titans can also target Shai Hope in the mini-auction.
“Who apart from them? Then the Gujarat Titans came to mind. If the Gujarat Titans let Tom Banton go and bring in Shai Hope, Jos Buttler plays at No. 3, and he will become a No. 3 option. He might not get a place in the XI, but that is the second franchise I can think of that might have Shai Hope in mind,” Chopra observed.
The renowned commentator added that defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru would not need Hope’s services.
“I didn’t get anything apart from them. Maybe as a replacement for Phil Salt, but then you will have to let Jordan Cox go, which you wouldn’t want. The guy bats down the order. So Bengaluru doesn’t need him. KKR have Tim Seifert and Finn Allen. So they also don’t need him. If you look at Chennai, they have Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad as openers. So they won’t need him,” he said.
Chopra concluded by saying that the other franchises will also not need Shai Hope.
