Former India opener and commentator Aakash Chopra feels that the five-time IPL-winning Chennai Super Kings may look to get KL Rahul, hoping to fill multiple gaps as well as a keeper-batter in the absence of former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Rahul's stint with his last team, Lucknow Super Giants, has not been a cordial one, despite leading LSG to playoff appearances in their first two IPL seasons, 2022 and 2023. However, the team ended in seventh place in 2024, also having an animated chat with owner Sanjiv Goenka (after a defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad) as the major highlight of their campaign. Even though Rahul stayed silent earlier but opened up later, before the 2025 auction, condeming it as not "the nicest thing to be part of or something that anyone wants to see on the cricket field." LSG too, decided to move on without Rahul. Despite his team's challenges, Rahul had an impressive individual performance in IPL 2024, scoring 520 runs at a strike rate of 136.12. Read: IPL 2025 Auction: AI Predicts Rishabh Pant's IPL Team and Final Bid Price Coming back to Akash Chopra, while speaking about CSK, he said in his YouTube channel, "What all do they need? I feel they need a successor to Dhoni, a wicketkeeper-batter, and it's great if they get an Indian." Adding a comic relief, he said, "Everyone is saying, let me also say - he is more than 30 years old, is going to be a father very soon and everyone has written him off as well, so he is right for Chennai, that's KL Rahul. So they will definitely go for KL Rahul." CSK's Rs 55 Crore Auction Strategy: Targeting Top Players and Possible Ashwin Reunion Aakash Chopra discussed CSK's auction strategy, emphasizing their Rs 55 crore budget, which allows them to bid for top players like Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, or Shreyas Iyer. He also mentioned the possibility of CSK targeting veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to strengthen their spin options alongside Ravindra Jadeja. Chopra hinted at Ashwin's potential return to CSK, where he began his IPL journey. "Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran spinner who started his IPL journey with the franchise. "CSK has struggled with spin options apart from Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin, who is also associated with CSK's academy, could bring balance to their attack in what might be his final IPL cycle." Despite speculation about a move to Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rahul remains open to playing for any team, with his adaptability and versatility making him a highly sought-after player in the auction.