"He is extremely promising, but a lot of money is parked there" - Aakash Chopra on players LSG should release after IPL 2025

Former India player Aakash Chopra has picked Mayank Yadav as one of the players the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) should release ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. While acknowledging Mayank's potential, he pointed out that the speedster was retained for a massive amount.

LSG garnered only 12 points from 14 games in IPL 2025 and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Mayank, who was retained for ₹11 crore ahead of the mega auction, played only two games in the recently concluded season, picking up two wickets at an economy rate of 12.50.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener opined that LSG should release Mayank, considering his injury-related availability issues.

"You should release Mayank Yadav because he has played only six matches in two years. He is extremely promising, but a lot of money is parked there. You can understand why it's parked, but if he is not going to play, you have to move somewhere else," he said (2:40).

Chopra reckoned that the Lucknow-based franchise should also release Ravi Bishnoi.

"Ravi Bishnoi - a lot of money is parked there, but towards the end of the season, you couldn't even make a place for him in the XI. So you will have to release him," he observed.

LSG retained Ravi Bishnoi for ₹11 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The wrist-spinner picked up only nine wickets at an economy rate of 10.83 in 11 innings this season.

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"Akash Singh has bowled better than Akash Deep" - Aakash Chopra on the LSG right-arm seamer's performances in IPL 2025

Akash Deep picked up three wickets at an economy rate of 12.05 in six innings in IPL 2025. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra urged the Lucknow Super Giants to release Akash Deep, who was acquired for ₹8 crore, highlighting that the relatively inexperienced Akash Singh performed better than the right-arm seamer in IPL 2025.

"You played such a massive punt on Akash Deep, but Akash Singh has bowled better than Akash Deep. Akash is a good name, but it's not necessary that Akash always works like Akashteer. So Akash Deep will have to be released," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that David Miller is another high-priced player LSG should release ahead of the auction.

"David Miller is one more player you will have to release. Again, a very expensive player, but how many overseas batters do you need? You have kept two or three openers, and Nicholas Pooran with them. It is very nice, but you will not be able to manage with more overseas than that because you will play an overseas bowler as well. So let Miller go as well," Chopra reasoned.

LSG bought David Miller for ₹7.50 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. The middle-order batter scored 153 runs at a strike rate of 127.50 in 11 innings this season.