“I feel RCB have lost more” - Aakash Chopra cautions RCB ahead of IPL 2025 Playoffs

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra feels Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had more to lose in the contest against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as the game got washed out with both teams getting one point each at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday, May 17.

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As RCB is currently occupying the pole position with 17 points from 12 games, the maximum they can reach is 21 points from 14 games with their next two matches scheduled against the Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru.

However, RCB have a huge threat from Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians as these three franchises can take the top two slots in the standings. Interestingly, RCB is strongly aiming for the top two spots to make things easier in the playoffs.

"When I look at it from RCB's perspective, I feel this match should have happened because you played your last match on May 3. So it's been a long time since you played. Your players are also going, Devdutt Padikkal and Josh Hazlewood are missing, so you want to start playing," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

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"You need to reach 21 points. They can still reach there. The last match is theirs. It's against Lucknow. However, the Hyderabad match is also in Bengaluru. If that also gets rained off, you will reach 18 points. You would qualify, but even if you reach 20 points after the last match, you might not finish in the top two. So I feel RCB have lost more, if you look at it from that point of view," he added.

On the other hand, with the game getting washed out vs RCB, the Knight Riders suffered elimination from the campaign. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side entered the season as the defending champions, but couldn’t live up to the expectations. 

"I had less expectations from Kolkata. Technically, they were still in the game. They wouldn't have qualified with 15 points. Now they are eliminated. There are a few prima facie things. You have such a lengthy batting lineup, but you couldn't use that properly," he concluded.

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