“He played his last T20 in 2014” – Aakash Chopra on James Anderson putting his name in IPL 2025 auction

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has shared his surprise on James Anderson putting his name for IPL 2025 mega auction. Anderson has set a base price of Rs 1.25 crore for the auction, which will take place at Jeddah on November 24 and 25.

Surprisingly, Anderson played his last T20I back in 2009 and played his last T20 in 2014. Thus, it has been more than a decade since he has played in the shortest format of the game.

Anderson recently retired from the red-ball version after taking 704 scalps at the top level. Chopra predicted that Anderson might go unsold in the upcoming auction.

“Jimmy Anderson is there, and I am thinking why is Jimmy Anderson there? He played his last T20I in 2009. He played his last T20 in 2014, which means it has been ages. You have come for your retirement plan and Jimmy Anderson might go unsold at ₹1.25 crore. There is a strong possibility but he has put his name,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

On the other hand, England’s Test captain Ben Stokes hasn’t put his name for the IPL 2025 mega auction. Chopra noted that Stokes hasn’t lived up to te lofty expectations in the last few seasons of the IPL.

“Ben Stokes has said that he won’t play. I am saying ‘unchi dukan pheeka pakwan’, ‘naam bade darshan chote’. That is Ben Stokes. He has played three matches in total in the last four years. He played one in 2021, didn’t play in 2022, played two in 2023, and didn’t play in 2024,” he noted.

The renowned commentator feels Stokes might not have attracted bids even if he had put his hat in the auction ring.

“In 2025, he is saying that he is going to miss it, that he doesn’t want to play as he wants to focus. Focus where? He might have been sold at the base price here. Bids might not have been placed on him at all. He remains injured a lot and doesn’t play. The name is there but performance-wise, let’s not go there,” Chopra reasoned.

On the other hand, Chopra feels Steve Smith could take over Punjab Kings’ captaincy with head coach Ricky Ponting taking charge of the franchise.

“The ₹2 crore people include (Jos) Buttler, (Mitchell) Starc, (Glenn) Maxwell and Steven Smith. Smith might become Punjab’s captain. You never know – Punter (Ricky Ponting) has gone there. (Jonny) Bairstow, (Kagiso) Rabada, (Mark) Wood, (Jofra) Archer and (Gus) Atkinson are among the overseas players who have put their names in the ₹2 crore list,” he said in the same video.