Aakash Chopra opens up on LSG’s potential releases ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opined that Lucknow Super Giants should release their fast bowler Mayank Yadav ahead of IPL 2026 auction. Yadav was retained for INR 11 crore by the franchise ahead of the last year’s mega auction.

However, the fast bowler from Delhi played only two matches in the previous edition due to injury woes. Yadav had impressed one and all with his speed and accuracy as he had scalped seven wickets in four matches of the tournament.

“Should Rishabh Pant be released? I would say no. You don’t spend ₹27 crore just for one season. He is a dynamite. Keep him with you and retain him as captain. If you feel you will repurchase Rishabh Pant, a team isn’t created by saving a few crores,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“Should Mayank Yadav be released or retained? He is for ₹11 crore. When he plays, he straightaway becomes the Player of the Match, but it’s also the truth that he has played only four matches in the last two years. If you are unable to play an entire season, are you worth ₹11 crore? Let Mayank Yadav go and buy him back if you wish,” he added.

The renowned commentator wants LSG to retain Ravi Bishnoi, who is a proven performer in T20s. The leg-spinner scalped nine wickets in 11 matches of IPL 2025.

“The second question will be about Ravi Bishnoi – ₹11 crore. I am thinking that it’s a mini auction, Ravi Bishnoi is a proven T20 match-winner, was very high in the T20 rankings for a long time, his last year was not good, but if he goes into the auction, will he get ₹11 crore? It’s a mini auction and the prices are inflated. So Retain Ravi Bishnoi,” he said.

The former Delhi cricketer urged LSG to also retain fast bowler Avesh Khan. The right-arm pacer scalped 13 wickets in 13 matches in the previous season for the franchise. Chopra wants LSG to release Akash Deep, as his performances in the white-ball format haven’t been promising.

“Avesh Khan – ₹9.75 crore, retain him. He is expensive, but retain him. You need Indian fast bowlers. Akash Deep – ₹8 crore, I would say release him because he is not doing well in white-ball cricket, unless something has changed in his bowling style,” Chopra reasoned.

The IPL franchises will release the list of their retained players before November 15, which is the deadline date.