Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked an interesting IPL 2025 XI, in which he selected only uncapped Indian players. Chopra picked Punjab Kings openers – Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya – as the two openers in his team.
Singh and Arya delivered consistently for PBKS, scoring 549 and 475 runs respectively in 17 matches each and thus the duo played a key role in taking the franchise to the final.
“I am going with two uncapped Punjabis to begin with. Of course, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, because they took the team to the final. Priyansh Arya has started so beautifully. Prabhsimran Singh had a season with 500-plus runs. Just to put things into perspective, Rohit Sharma has had one season with 500-plus runs,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra picked Rajasthan Royals’ young prodigy batter, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, at one down. The left-hander scored 252 runs in seven matches at a blistering strike rate of 206.56.
“At No. 3, I am keeping Vaibhav Suryavanshi. It happens once in a generation that a 14-year-old kid scores a hundred, and he didn’t stop there. He batted well after that too. I had a choice between Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. I am going with Vaibhav Suryavanshi,” the former India opener observed.
The renowned commentator picked Nehal Wadhera, who scored 369 runs in 15 innings at an average of 30.75, at number four. Chopra selected Shashank Singh at number five. Singh scored 350 runs in 14 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 153.50.
“At No. 4, I have Nehal Wadhera. Of course, the final knock wasn’t good, but the boy has played well regularly. He plays spin and pace well. He played a significant role in taking Punjab forward,” he stated.
“Shashank also had a role. Even in the final, he hit three sixes and a four against Josh Hazlewood off the last four balls. Of course, he couldn’t win the match, but you remember his batting from the first match against GT, and then he kept playing important knocks. Shashank is my team’s captain,” Chopra added.
Chopra backed Naman Dhir, who scored 252 runs in 12 innings at an impressive strike rate of 182.61, at number six.
“After that, I have kept Naman Dhir as well. He has batted extremely well. I feel if he had been batted slightly up the order, he would have made bigger contributions. He is a brilliant player,” he elaborated.
At number seven, Chopra picked Delhi Capitals’ Vipraj Nigam and said he was the find of the tournament. Nigam scored 142 runs in eight innings and scalped 11 wickets in 14 matches.
“After that, I have chosen Vipraj Nigam. A phenomenal all-rounder. I felt he was the find of the tournament. He could be the earliest to play for India. He bowls leg-spin, bowls fast, the ball turns, bowls with courage, and in the powerplay and the middle overs. If you see his batting, his wrists work even on the off side. He has got that incredible skill and the temperament,” he said.
Subsequently, the former Delhi player picked Harpreet Brar, who bagged 10 wickets in IPL 2025.
“After that, I am keeping Harpreet Brar. He bats and bowls. He didn’t play all the matches, but did well whenever he played. He consistently bowled at one spot. He picked up some big wickets as well. I remember him dismissing Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja,” Chopra reasoned.
Chopra picked Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Anshul Kamboj as the three fast bowlers in his team. Dayal scalped 13 wickets in 15 matches whereas Vyshak snared four wickets in five games. Kamboj bagged eight wickets in as many games.
“After that, I have picked three pacers. One is Yash Dayal. He won the team the final. He has been good. He bowled back-of-the-hand slower balls and yorkers. He bowled in different phases,” he observed.
“Vijaykumar Vyshak – again, he took the team to the final. The first match against Sherfane Rutherford and brought the ball in very well in the final as well. He got less opportunities, and might have done better had he got more opportunities,” Chopra added.
“I was thinking about Ashwani Kumar and Arshad Khan. I was thinking about Prince Yadav as well. Akash Singh also bowled well, but I have to go with Anshul Kamboj because he looks like a long-term prospect,” he noted.
Aakash Chopra’s uncapped IPL 2025 XI: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Naman Dhir, Vipraj Nigam, Harpreet Brar, Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Anshul Kamboj.
