IPL 2023: The entire team’s backbone will become weak – Aakash Chopra on Shreyas Iyer’s absence

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes Shreyas Iyer’s absence will leave a huge void in KKR’s team for the upcoming season of IPL 2023. Iyer is expected to miss the major chunk of the tournament due to a back injury and thus the franchise has named Nitish Rana as their new leader.

Shreyas was bought for a whopping amount of INR 12.25 in IPL 2022 mega auction and had led them in the previous season. The Mumbai batter had also led Delhi Capitals to the finals in IPL 2020.

The 28-year-old has scored 2776 runs in 101 IPL matches at an average of 31.55 and the franchise will miss his services not only as a batter but also as a leader.

Aakash Chopra said on Akashvani on JioCinema, “What about Shreyas Iyer’s fitness? It is a question that is looming large because he is this team’s captain and their life. He has back spasms at the moment. If he has some back issues, the entire team’s backbone will become weak.”

“The expectations are, fingers and toes crossed, that the guy becomes fit and available because does a team work without the captain? They have Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh and Mandeep Singh as pure batter options. That’s why Shreyas Iyer is extremely important not just as a captain but also as a batter.”

Meanwhile, the former KKR player added that he doesn’t count Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder in the IPL. However, KKR has all-rounders like Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, David Wiese, and Venkatesh Iyer. But Chopra is concerned with Andre Russell’s form.

“They have Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Shakib Al Hasan and David Wiese as all-rounders. There is no doubt that all the names are good. I don’t count Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder in this tournament. I feel he is a proper bowler who might bat a little at times.”

“Andre Russell, who was the life and pride of this team, which is still the case, is not performing that well. If you see his last 12 months in various leagues across the globe, he hasn’t really set the world on fire. He is not hitting regularly.”

Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their IPL 2023 campaign against Punjab Kings at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on 1st April.