Former India player Aakash Chopra has said that the RCB would be wary of facing the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2025 Eliminator as well. He also shared that MI are on a roll, and RCB would want to avoid facing them before
the final as well. However, SRH beat RCB by 42 runs on Friday, May 23. The result meant that RCB slipped to the third spot on the points table and would face MI, who are currently fourth in the points table, in the Eliminator, if GT and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) win the rest of their league matches.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “The top-two story is very important. Whoever finishes in the top two gets two chances. When I look at it from Bengaluru’s point of view, if you finish at No. 3 or No. 4, you will have Mumbai Indians against you in the Eliminator, and you need to be wary of the Mumbai Indians at this moment.”

“Since I want RCB to do well and move forward, avoid Mumbai a little. It’s okay if you meet them in the final, but you need to avoid them a little before that because they have become a dangerous team. You beat them at their home for sure, but that was a different Mumbai. They are a very different Mumbai at the moment,” he further added.

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While talking about RCB’s issues after their defeat to SRH, Aakash Chopra added that Josh Hazlewood’s absence has weakened their bowling attack as well.

“The problems have mounted. You have conceded 200 runs twice in the last two matches. What you have done only thrice in the entire season, you have done it twice in the last two matches. What has changed? One guy has changed, and his name is Josh Hazlewood. He hasn’t come, and suddenly the bowling’s stature has gone down,” he said.

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“The second thing that has gone wrong is Tim David injuring his hamstring. He was stumbling and walking with great difficulty. He came to bat for sure, but he could hardly bat. There is no replacement for Tim David in the entire IPL. Tim David getting injured in his leg and stumbling is not good for your campaign,” Chopra shared.

“Last but not the least, you will also miss Devdutt Padikkal, as things had fallen in place. Mayank Agarwal came in his place and scored 10-odd runs. He was playing decently, but you will miss Devdutt Padikkal because things go differently when there is a left-hander in the middle. So a lot of things have gone awry,” Aakash Chopra concluded.