Former India player Aakash Chopra has praised the RCB batters for adopting an aggressive approach in their IPL 2025 match against the CSK. While saying that Virat Kohli struggled to force the pace, he stated that the other batters made up for it as well. Despite Kohli taking 30 balls for his 31 runs, RCB set CSK a massive 197-run target in Chennai and then restricted them to 146/8 to register a comprehensive 50-run win as well.
While talking about RCB’s innings in a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “The overriding theme was that they had depth and would keep going aggressive, irrespective of what was happening. Phil Salt first started hitting fours and sixes. MS Dhoni’s hands and Noor Ahmad’s ball were incredible, and he was trapped. No one will talk about Devdutt Padikkal because it was a short knock. However, it should be talked about because Devdutt Padikkal picked up the momentum from where Salt left. Virat Kohli was playing a run-a-ball at the other end. He was actually struggling, but that can happen.”
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“Then comes the captain. He wasn’t playing very well at the start. He played a few good shots and then was dropped multiple times. However, he was adamant that he would walk the talk as a captain. He said he doesn’t have to put a price tag on his wicket. He adopted a selfless approach. Some people might say he was reckless, but T20 cricket allows you to be reckless,” Chopra again shared.
While talking about CSK’s bowling in the same video, Aakash Chopra said that Ravichandran Ashwin (1/22 in two overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (0/37 in three overs) were expensive and failed to do well.
“Ravichandran Ashwin bowled only two overs. He picked up a wicket but was very expensive. Ravindra Jadeja didn’t complete his spell. So that is a bit of a problem because we are saying they have 12 overs of excellent spin, but you will have to bowl spin on the ground. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled only carrom balls. I am sure he knows why he was doing that, but it did not work out, and Ravindra Jadeja also didn’t bowl the entire four overs. So that is not a good story. If you are a Chennai fan, you will think this is your 12-over spell, but how will it work if you are unable to bowl that? That left a little bit to be desired,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
