On Saturday, June 7, former India opener Aakash Chopra selected his favorite starting lineup among the top uncapped players in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL 2025).

He surprisingly omitted a few important players, such as champions Suyash Sharma of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Ayush Mhatre of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), because there were so many young players who stepped up for practically every team during the season.

Chopra brought in several players from the runners-up, Punjab Kings, who were a young team. It began with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, the openers and two of the tournament's top run scorers.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old star for the Rajasthan Royals, was a clear choice for number three and was selected before Mhatre.

“I am going with two uncapped Punjabis to begin with. Of course, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, because they took the team to the final. At No. 3, I am keeping Vaibhav Suryavanshi. It happens once in a generation that a 14-year-old kid scores a hundred, and he didn’t stop there. He batted well after that, too. I had a choice between Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. I am going with Vaibhav Suryavanshi," Aakash Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.

Shashank Singh was named captain of the Uncapped XI of IPL 2025 by Aakash Chopra. He was joined by Mumbai Indians’ Naman Dhir and another PBKS player, Nehal Wadhera, on either side in the XI.

“Shashank also had a role. Even in the final, he hit three sixes and a four against Josh Hazlewood off the last four balls. Of course, he couldn’t win the match, but you remember his batting from the first match against GT, and then he kept playing important knocks. Shashank is my team’s captain," Chopra added.

Two more PBKS players, pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak and spinner Harpreet Brar, were chosen as well. Chopra gave special recognition to Vipraj Nigam, a spin all-rounder with the Delhi Capitals (DC), who outperformed Suyash with superb batting skills.

“After that, I have chosen Vipraj Nigam. A phenomenal all-rounder. I felt he was the find of the tournament. He could be the earliest to play for India. He bowls leg-spin, bowls fast, the ball turns, bowls with courage, and bowls in the powerplay and the middle overs. If you see his batting, his wrists work even on the offside. He has got that incredible skill and the temperament," Chopra said.

Yash Dayal and Anshul Kambhoj completed Aakash Chopra's IPL uncapped XI bowling unit.

Aakash Chopra’s uncapped playing 11 for IPL 2025: 

Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS), Priyansh Arya (PBKS), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR), Nehal Wadhera (PBKS), Shashank Singh (C-PBKS), Naman Dhir (MI), Vipraj Nigam (DC), Harpreet Brar (PBKS), Yash Dayal (RCB), Vijaykumar Vyshak (PBKS), Anshul Kamboj (CSK)