Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has revealed that Lucknow Super Giants should release Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep, and David Miller ahead of IPL 2026 mini-auction. Yadav, who joined LSG late after recovering from a back injury, could only play two matches in IPL 2025 and scalped two wickets at a high economy rate of 12.50.
The fast bowler, who had impressed in his maiden season, was once again ruled out of the rest of the season due to injury. The fast bowler from Delhi was retained for a huge amount of INR 11 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction by LSG.
“You should release Mayank Yadav because he has played only six matches in two years. He is extremely promising, but a lot of money is parked there. You can understand why it’s parked, but if he is not going to play, you have to move somewhere else,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Meanwhile, Ravi Bishnoi scalped nine wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 10.83 and Chopra said the franchise should let the leg-spinner, go.
“Ravi Bishnoi – a lot of money is parked there, but towards the end of the season, you couldn’t even make a place for him in the XI. So you will have to release him,” he observed.
Chopra noted that Akash Singh bowled better for LSG than Akash Deep, who was bought for INR 8 crore in the auction. Deep could only manage three wickets in six games whereas Singh took four wickets in three matches.
“You played such a massive punt on Akash Deep, but Akash Singh has bowled better than Akash Deep. Akash is a good name, but it’s not necessary that Akash always works like Akashteer. So Akash Deep will have to be released,” he said.
The renowned commentator reckons LSG should release David Miller, who failed to deliver. The South African scored 153 runs in 11 matches of IPL 2025 at an average of 30.60.
“David Miller is one more player you will have to release. Again, a very expensive player, but how many overseas batters do you need? You have kept two or three openers, and Nicholas Pooran with them. It is very nice, but you will not be able to manage with more overseas than that because you will play an overseas bowler as well. So let Miller go as well,” Chopra reasoned.
LSG could not qualify for the playoffs after managing six wins and eight losses in 14 games and finished at seventh place in the standings.
