Aakash Chopra says IPL 2025 will present a great opportunity to Rajat Patidar, says he shouldn’t follow Virat Kohli’s approach

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes the upcoming season of IPL 2025 will give a massive opportunity to Rajat Patidar to prove his mettle as a leader. Chopra advised Patidar to back his own methods and not follow Virat Kohli’s approach.

Patidar was retained by the franchise along with Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal ahead of the auction. The three-time finalists then appointed Patidar as their new leader ahead of Kohli. Patidar led Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and also captained his state team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

“The biggest opportunity is for Rajat Patidar. What will you expect from him? He did well for MP (Madhya Pradesh), took the team to the final in SMAT (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy), and the team looked towards you and said they are planning for the next four to five years. However, do they actually invest that much? That question always remains,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“They have a legacy of good captains. Don’t think what Virat Kohli would have done. When a player of such huge stature is part of the team, you look towards him. He has also captained this team for eight years. So you suddenly think what Virat would have done in a particular situation,” Chopra added.

The renowned commentator reckons Patidar has the opportunity to take RCB to their maiden title.

“There would be a lot of pressure on you if you go with that thinking because you will never chart your own course. It’s important to make your own way. Virat Kohli is a part of that team, you don’t have to captain like Virat Kohli. So opportunities for him. He can actually create history. If he does what has not happened to date – Wow,” Chopra observed.

On the other hand, Chopra feels the upcoming season would provide a great opportunity for Rasikh Dar, who is known for his guile bowling in the death overs.