Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes IPL 2025 will be a big opportunity for Rishabh Pant. The wicket-keeper bat is currently not part of India’s T20I team and Chopra reckons a good IPL season for Pant can help him get back among the selection scheme of things.
Pant was part of India’s T20 World Cup winning team but since then hasn’t played for the T20I side as Sanju Samson has been playing as the first-choice wicket-keeper bat.
Meanwhile, Pant was also part of the Champions Trophy winning squad but didn’t get a single match in the tournament as KL Rahul was preferred ahead of him.
Pant was roped in for a whopping amount of INR 27 crore in IPL 2025 mega-auction by Lucknow Super Giants and he will lead the franchise in the upcoming season.
“Rishabh Pant has a big opportunity. Why am I saying that? He is not part of the T20 team. He is not even part of their scheme of things. People are surprised as to why such a strong player is unable to get set in T20s. So, this is your season, sir. Come and score so many runs so that everyone is shaken,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Where he would bat would be a question. There are a lot of discussions that he would open as keepers are batting there. You don’t have to compete with Sanju. You have to make your own place properly. I would say there is no need to bat above No. 3 or No. 4. If you get a great start, come at No. 3, or else keep all three left-handers at four, five and six, and hit everyone,” Chopra added.
The reputed commentator said T20 selections are dynamic and a good IPL season for Rishabh Pant can help him break into India’s T20I team before the T20 World Cup 2026.
“There are two things. Firstly, take the team forward. Then you get recognized more as a captain. Secondly, if you score runs, you return to India reckoning. I am still not convinced that the T20 team playing currently will play next year as well. The T20 selections are going to be very dynamic,” he said.
“So this IPL will play a huge role in terms of who is moving forward and able to make his place again. So I see a huge opportunity for Rishabh Pant as a captain with a new franchise and as a batter,” Chopra observed.
LSG will begin their IPL campaign against Delhi Capitals at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam on 24th March.
