Aakash Chopra, a former India player, has named Mayank Yadav as one of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) players to be released ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. While noting Mayank’s potential, he noted that the speedster was kept for a large sum.
LSG scored only 12 points from 14 games in IPL 2025, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Mayank, who was retained for ₹11 crore ahead of the big auction, played only two games in the recently finished season, picking up two wickets with an economy rate of 12.50.
In a video posted on his YouTube account ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener suggested that LSG release Mayank due to his injury-related availability concerns.
“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.”
Aakash Chopra
LSG signed Ravi Bishnoi for ₹11 crore before the IPL 2025 auction. This season, the wrist-spinner took only nine wickets with an economy rate of 10.83 in 11 innings.
Aakash Chopra picks Akash Singh over Akash Deep for better IPL 2025 showing
In the same video, Aakash Chopra encouraged the Lucknow Super Giants to remove Akash Deep, who was acquired for ₹8 crore. He highlighted how the comparatively inexperienced Akash Singh fared 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.”
Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator believes David Miller is another high-priced player who LSG could 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.”
Aakash Chopra
LSG purchased David Miller for ₹7.50 crore during the IPL 2025 auction. This season, the middle-order batter scored 153 runs with a strikeout rate of 127.50 in 11 innings.
