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"Who Are We To Judge?" Aakash Chopra On Stars Quitting Int'l Cricket Early

Jatin

Aakash Chopra and Nicholas Pooran [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @Saurabh89851634/x.com]Aakash Chopra and Nicholas Pooran [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @Saurabh89851634/x.com]

Cricketers hanging up their boots early has become the new norm and it has got everyone talking. Among them is former India opener Aakash Chopra, who has not only raised the issue but also served it with a mix of realism, empathy and a pinch of salt.

Aakash Chopra Justifies Why Stars Are Ditching International Cricket

“Everyone is retiring. What exactly is happening?” Aakash Chopra asked, speaking on his YouTube channel. And he is not wrong.

From Heinrich Klaasen to Nicholas Pooran and even someone like Kane Williamson opting out of a central contract, players are packing up international cricket faster than anyone expected.

And Chopra unpacked the “why” behind this growing trend and broke it down in detail. He hit the nail on the head as he compared a cricketer’s life to a packet of biscuits.

“Like a biscuit packet, every player has a 'best before' tag. If you don’t maximise your career in that window, when it ends, you’re left with nothing but family and fading memories," said Chopra as quoted by The Times Of India.

He explained that for many of these players, especially from countries that don’t pay as well as India, becoming a T20 freelancer isn’t about chasing money, it’s about securing the future.

“If someone like Klaasen or Pooran can earn in four years what they would’ve made in ten for their country, who are we to judge? They want a secure and happy retirement, and this path offers that.”

Not Everyone Has BCCI Backing: Chopra

Chopra also pointed out that Indian fans sometimes miss the bigger picture. Not every cricketer has the financial safety net of a BCCI central contract.

“People don’t understand that players in some countries have to drive taxis or work as plumbers after retirement.”

The ex-opener didn’t hold back when talking about cricket boards either. He took a swipe at how some boards have mishandled talent, pushing players away instead of supporting them.

“Boards like West Indies have been embroiled in ego clashes. If you're not accommodating, a player is bound to leave.”

And honestly, can you blame them? If players feel unheard or underpaid, it’s only natural they will go where they are valued.

A Reality Check, Not Betrayal

In closing, Chopra urged fans to stop seeing these early exits as selfish or disloyal. Instead, he called them tough, personal decisions made in a cut-throat system.

Cricketers, after all, aren’t machines, they are human. And sometimes, chasing security off the field matters more than glory on it.