Aakash Chopra questions RCB for not retaining Will Jacks in IPL 2025 auction

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s decision to not reacquire the services of England batter Will Jacks in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Jacks was bought by Mumbai Indians for INR 5.25 crore but RCB didn’t even bid for him let alone use their RTM.

The right-hander had scored 230 runs in eight matches of IPL 2024 at an average of 32.86 and a strike rate of 175.57. Jacks also scored a 41-ball century against Gujarat Titans in the league stage.

“Not keeping Will Jacks was a very interesting story. They neither bid nor used the RTM for him. There was a lot of discussion on that because we all thought they would definitely keep Will Jacks. However, this team thought that their top order was sorted and they don’t need Will Jacks in that. It’s a matter of thinking,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

The renowned commentator said Jacks could have played as an opener and he was certainly worth INR 5 to 6 crore.

“Will Jacks could have played as an opener, and you could have spent ₹25-27 crore for Rishabh Pant in the middle, or else you could have kept KL Rahul. You had ₹83 crore. Leaving Will Jacks was a bit of a surprise for me. Personally, I disagree with that decision. I won’t say that their team has become weak because of that, but Will Jacks was worth it for ₹5-6 crore,” Chopra added.

Meanwhile, RCB bagged the services of all-rounder Krunal Pandya for INR 5.75 but Chopra said he isn’t a wicket-taking option as he bowls defensively.

“After Yuzvendra Chahal, they haven’t got a good spinner like that. They have taken Krunal Pandya. Krunal Pandya is very defensive. His economy is good at this ground (Chinnaswamy Stadium) as well, but Krunal Pandya is not your wicket-taking left-arm spinner. He will give a little batting, but it’s Krunal Pandya,” he said (6:50).

Chopra highlighted that RCB could not assemble a potent spin attack despite having INR 83 crore remaining in their purse before the start of the auction and it will be a concern for them while playing at home.

“The second spinner they have is Suyash Sharma. Then they have Swapnil Singh. So Swapnil, Suyash, Krunal Pandya, and Liam Livingstone with them, if you think this is the spin-bowling department, will you (the opposing team) be worried? I will not be worried at all. Good spinners are thrashed at that ground,” Chopra observed.

 IPL 2025 will start on March 14 with the final on May 25.