“A reputation has developed that he plays very slow at times” - Aakash Chopra opens up on KL Rahul’s Asia Cup 2025 selection chances

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has opened up on KL Rahul’s chances of making it to the Indian T20I team for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025 campaign, scheduled to start on September 9 in the United Arab Emirates.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra felt that Rahul already has competition from players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Shubman Gill for the opening slot. Moreover, players like Ishan Kishan and Jitesh Sharma are also moving up the ranks for the keeper-batter slot.

Chopra also asserted that Rahul’s low strike rates at times could be one of the reasons why he might not make it to the Asia Cup 2025 squad. Ahead of the England tour, Rahul scored 539 runs in the IPL 2025 season, including a century and three half-centuries.

“If you see his IPL numbers, they are outstanding. In the recent past, no player has been a 600-run bank like him. However, a reputation has developed that he plays very slowly at times,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

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“If something is stopping him, it’s his own mindset. Sometimes his legs are shackled, and when the mindset is right, he flies with wings. I feel he has the game. I remember a shot, it was the Indore ground, and he hit Jasprit Bumrah for a six over cover, and I was like wow. However, then you also get knocks when you feel that he should hit, but he thinks differently,” he noted.

“He cannot play as an opener because the opening story has ended, unfortunately, for the time being. Sanju Samson is there with Abhishek Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal is behind them, and I am putting Shubman Gill’s name also at the fourth spot. Four people are standing in the line,” he added.

“Ishan Kishan is saying that he is also there. Everyone wants to open. So there is no place for an opener. You will have to play in the middle order, and there, Jitesh Sharma is one, who has done very well, played an excellent IPL, and made his team win. Sanju Samson is opening at the moment. So a keeper is not required. Dhruv Jurel is also standing behind,” Chopra concluded.

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Speaking about his T20I career stats, Rahul has played 72 T20Is, amassing 2200 runs with two centuries. His last T20I appearance for the national team came in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final defeat against England at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide.

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