Aakash Chopra believes IPL 2025 presents a key opportunity for Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya to prove his leadership. Chopra noted that Hardik is no longer a top contender for the Indian captaincy. Retained for INR 16.35 crore, Hardik remains MI’s captain for the season. In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra identified Hardik as MI’s player with the greatest opportunity in IPL 2025.
“The greatest opportunity lies with Hardik Pandya. At one point, he seemed to be the natural successor to Rohit Sharma. Whenever Rohit wasn’t available, Hardik was handed the captaincy. It seemed almost certain that he would take charge of the white-ball format. But now, he’s been removed from the captaincy picture,” he mentioned at 9:15.
“Now, no one even brings up his name. He’s not being considered for the vice-captain role either. Despite his consistent performances, he’s been sidelined. He’s a player who steps up when it matters the most, consistently delivering in crucial moments. He led the Gujarat Titans to victory in the title and took them to the final the following year,” he noted.
“Now, suddenly, he’s nowhere to be found in the conversation. He’s not even in the captaincy discussions. This could be a season of personal redemption for him. Can he lead the Mumbai Indians back to their former glory? This time, there will be greater acceptance, but the real opportunity lies with Hardik Pandya,” Chopra emphasized.
“Deepak Chahar also faces a significant opportunity. He’s somewhat faded from the T20 spotlight, but this season could be the turning point. If he stays fit and plays throughout the season, Wankhede Stadium could be the stage where he makes his comeback. If he starts taking wickets with the new ball, he could soon be back in contention for the Indian team,” he said at 10:10.
Meanwhile, MI secured Deepak Chahar for 79.25 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. Once fully fit and available, Chahar is expected to share new-ball duties with Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah and could also play a key role in the death overs.