Aakash Chopra believes Chennai Super Kings (CSK) missed a move by not trying hard to acquire the services of Ravi Bishnoi In the IPL 2026 mini-auction on Tuesday, December 16.
Bishnoi, who had a base price of Rs 2 crore, sparked a bidding war between Rajasthan Royals and CSK. However, the five-time champions withdrew their name when Rajasthan raised their price to Rs 6 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the bidding later, but it was the inaugural champions who ultimately signed the Indian leg spinner for Rs 7.20 crore.
CSK later acquired the services of Rahul Chahar for Rs 5.2 crore. Ultimately the Men in Yellow left the auction with a purse of Rs 2.40 crore. Chopra said that if CSK had used their remaining purse, they would have got Bishnoi in their camp.
“I have kept Ravi Bishnoi's name at the top. I was sure CSK would definitely take him because you don't have spinners and who will bowl with Noor Ahmed? Ultimately, they took Rahul Chahar, saved some money and went home,” he said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.
“If you had spent that money, you would have got Ravi Bishnoi. So there is no point in letting Ravi Bishnoi go for ₹7 crore. It is an incredible steal for me because five or six teams needed spinners. I thought this guy would go for at least ₹10-12 crore,” he said.
Chopra also picked wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Duckett and Quinton de Kock as two other steals. While Delhi Capitals bought Duckett for Rs 2 crore, De Kock was bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore.
He said, “The others were Ben Duckett and Quinton de Kock. Quinton de Kock for just ₹1 crore, which doesn't make sense if you see how he batted now in New Chandigarh, but Mumbai are in luck. The other is Ben Duckett, who is again a top quality attacking batsman. He comes with a lot of experience. This pitch would suit him, but for ₹2 crore.”
[David] Miller was a complete stealer: Chopra
South African finisher David Miller was also expected to be one of the hot picks at the auction table. However, he joined the Capitals at his base price of Rs 2 crore. Chopra called it another stolen deal.
Chopra argued, “Delhi got Miller for ₹2 crore. Many teams needed players at that number. Someone even gave Liam Livingstone ₹13 crore. That means Sunrisers Hyderabad needed one. CSK paid money for uncapped lower-order players. That means they needed a lower-order batsman too. Miller was an absolute steal.”
Concluding the discussion, Chopra praised Lucknow Super Giants for signing Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for his base price of Rs 2 crore.
“Wanindu Hasaranga, there was a big issue of supply and demand, not many spinners were there, but despite that, he was sold at the base price. He is not a run-of-the-mill bowler. He has taken a hat-trick and five-wicket haul in the IPL,” he said.
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