"Delhi and Kolkata need openers" - Aakash Chopra on Prithvi Shaw heading into IPL 2026 auction

Former India player Aakash Chopra has wondered whether Prithvi Shaw would find takers in the IPL 2026 auction. He highlighted that Shaw has returned to run-scoring ways in domestic cricket, with the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) potentially looking for openers at the auction.

Despite having a base price of just ₹75 lakh, Shaw went unsold at the IPL 2025 auction. The right-handed opener has amassed 1,892 runs at a strike rate of 147.47 in 79 IPL games.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener wondered whether IPL 2026 would trigger a turnaround in Shaw's career.

"Things have changed. Prithvi has found his direction once again. He has started scoring the runs. He has gone to Maharashtra. He scored a double century in the Ranji Trophy. He is scoring runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has a strike rate above 90 in the runs he has scored in the Ranji Trophy," Chopra said.

"So can Prithvi get another chance in this auction? I am wondering who needs openers. I think Delhi and Kolkata need openers. Can he rewrite a story? Maybe it's Prithvi's turn. My focus will be on him because life and cricket should always give you another opportunity, and this could be Prithvi's opportunity," he added.

The Delhi Capitals released Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis and Sediqullah Atal ahead of the IPL 2026 auction and might be looking for openers. The Kolkata Knight Riders released Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz ahead of the auction and might be searching for an opening partner for Sunil Narine.

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"Prithvi Shaw had more flamboyance and aggression" - Aakash Chopra on Shaw and Shubman Gill's under-19 days

Prithvi Shaw led India to the 2018 Under-19 World Cup title. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Prithvi Shaw was considered more flamboyant and aggressive than Shubman Gill during India's victorious 2018 Under-19 World Cup campaign.

"Prithvi Shaw is a case study. When India won the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, where Prithvi was the captain and Shubman Gill was also part of the team, many people said that a little more class was seen in Shubman Gill, but Prithvi Shaw had more flamboyance and aggression," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Shaw had a sensational Test debut before he lost his way and became controversy's favorite child.

"Prithvi has played for India previously and scored a century on Test debut. I remember that game. I think it was in Rajkot against the West Indies. However, after that, he got huge IPL contracts, and then he disappeared. It seemed like Prithvi had lost his direction, whether it was temperament issues or inconsistency. Plenty of controversies surrounded the kid," Chopra observed.

Prithvi Shaw has aggregated 339 runs at an average of 42.38 in five Tests. He has scored 189 runs at an average of 31.50 in six ODIs and was dismissed for a golden duck in the only T20I he has played thus far.