'I was convinced that CSK would definitely take him' - Former India opener names steal buys at the IPL 2026 auction

Published - 18 Dec 2025, 10:26 IST | Updated - 18 Dec 2025, 10:49 IST

Aakash Chopra believes that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) missed a trick by not going all out to acquire the services of Ravi Bishnoi at the IPL 2026 mini-auction on Tuesday, December 16.

Bishnoi, who had a base price of INR 2 crore, sparked a bidding war between the Rajasthan Royals and CSK. However, the five-time champions pulled out when Rajasthan took his price upto INR 6 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the bidding subsequently, but it was the inaugural champions who eventually signed the Indian leg-spinner for INR 7.20 crore.

CSK acquired the services of Rahul Chahar subsequently for INR 5.2 crore. The Men in Yellow eventually left the auction with a purse of INR 2.40 crore. Chopra stated that had CSK utilised their remaining purse, they would have gotten Bishnoi in their ranks.

"I have kept Ravi Bishnoi's name at the top. I was convinced that CSK would definitely take him because you didn't have spinners, and who would bowl with Noor Ahmad? Eventually, they took Rahul Chahar, saved some money, and went home," he said in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel.

"If you had spent that money, you would have gotten Ravi Bishnoi. So letting Ravi Bishnoi go for ₹7 crore didn't make sense. It's an incredible steal for me because five or six teams needed spinners. I thought this guy would go for ₹10-12 crores at least," he observed.

Chopra also picked wicketkeeper-batters Ben Duckett and Quinton de Kock as two other steal deals. While Delhi Capitals roped in Duckett for INR 2 crore, de Kock went to the Mumbai Indians for INR 1 crore.

"The second was Ben Duckett and Quinton de Kock. Quinton de Kock for just ₹1 crore, it doesn't make sense at all if you saw how he batted just now in New Chandigarh, but Mumbai's luck is good. The other is Ben Duckett, once again a top-quality aggressive batter. He has come with a lot of experience. This pitch will suit him, but at ₹2 crore," he said.

South African finisher David Miller was also expected to be one of the hot picks at the auction table. However, he joined the Capitals for his base price of INR 2 crore. Chopra described this as another steal deal.

"Delhi got Miller for ₹2 crore. Many teams needed players at that number. Someone gave ₹13 crore to Liam Livingstone as well. It means SunRisers Hyderabad needed one. CSK gave money to lower-order uncapped players. It means they also needed a lower-order batter. Miller was an absolute steal," Chopra reasoned.

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While concluding the discussion, Chopra praised Lucknow Super Giants for signing Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for his base price of INR 2 crore.

"Wanindu Hasaranga, there was a huge issue of supply and demand, many spinners weren't there, but despite that, he was sold at base price. He is not a run-of-the-mill bowler. He has a hat-trick and taken a five-wicket haul in the IPL," he observed.