Aakash Chopra opens up on GT’s issues ahead of IPL 2025 Eliminator vs MI

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes Gujarat Titans have veered off the track in the last few matches of the ongoing IPL 2025. GT had a golden opportunity to finish among the top-two teams in the standings but they lost their last two league phase matches badly.

GT will be without the services of their talismanic batter Jos Buttler for the playoffs. Chopra noted that Rashid Khan hasn’t been at his best in the ongoing season. The renowned commentator highlighted that Sai Kishore and Mohammed Siraj have drifted away in the last few games.

Furthermore, Chopra said it hasn’t been Rahul Tewatia’s season as the left-hander hasn’t batted at his best.

“Gujarat have lost their last two games badly. They lost to LSG and CSK. Bowling, which used to be this team’s strength, looked weak. Rashid Khan hasn’t come at all. If you see his numbers for this year, they are unbecoming of him. Prasidh Krishna is very good, but Siraj has tailed off a little. Sai Kishore was very good at the start, but the returns haven’t been that good lately,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan have scored runs, but it hasn’t been Rahul Tewatia’s season. He has not done anything thus far this season. One can say that he hasn’t got that many opportunities with the bat, but the runs aren’t there,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis has replaced Jos Buttler in GT’s squad. Buttler amassed 538 runs in 13 innings in IPL 2025 but had to leave due to national duty.

“Jos Buttler has gone. The top three have written the entire story thus far. The majority of runs have come from the top three only, and a very important player in that has gone. Kusal Mendis has come in his place. He will play as a keeper-batter,” he said.

Chopra highlighted that it won’t be easy for Kusal Mendis to hit the ground running in a competitive tournament like the IPL.

“He is experienced and is a Sri Lankan. So he will know these conditions well, but it will be his first IPL match of this year. It’s not easy to come suddenly and become like a fish in water. It’s not easy to blend in seamlessly,” Chopra elaborated.

GT will take on MI in the eliminator contest on Friday.