Aakash Chopra has said that Yashasvi Jaiswal’s move from Mumbai to Goa in domestic cricket is unlikely to be about money.Chopra also talked about the fake reports suggesting Suryakumar Yadav might make a similar move. As for Jaiswal, who has always played for Mumbai, he’s now reportedly asked the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to join Goa next season.
“A big story has emerged about Yashasvi Jaiswal leaving Mumbai. In the same report, it was also mentioned that Suryakumar Yadav might be making a similar move. Suryakumar, however, quickly denied these rumours, vowing to call out the fake news. It’s curious how often this happens, with the same sources often involved. I’m not specifically commenting on this news, but why resort to clickbait tactics?” Chopra remarked.
“Anyway, Yashasvi’s departure is a significant story. But let’s be clear, it’s not about money. Professional cricketers are well-compensated. Having played three years of professional cricket myself, I can tell you that money was a factor back then, but not for Yashasvi Jaiswal. With INR 18 crore in the IPL and his name likely on the national contract list, he wouldn’t make such a move purely for financial gain,” he added.
Chopra highlighted that with Jaiswal’s IPL contract worth INR 18 crore and his Grade B BCCI deal, money clearly isn’t a factor in his decision.
“So, what is Goa offering him? According to sources, Yashasvi has stated that he’s being offered a leadership role at Goa, which is why he’s making the switch. Goa, having recently joined the Elite group, are clearly looking to strengthen their team and have approached several players. It’s certainly an intriguing development,” Chopra noted.
“Yashasvi leaving Mumbai is massive. It’s like an Australian cricketer choosing to play for Zimbabwe, just to give you an idea. I really rate Yashasvi, but moving away from Mumbai is a huge step,” Chopra said.
Aakash Chopra also shared his view that it won’t be long before overseas players start representing domestic Indian teams. While he acknowledged that players like Vikram Solanki and Kabir Ali have played in domestic cricket before, he pointed out that it never became a common practice.
