Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has added that Josh Hazlewood’s potential unavailability for the rest of the IPL 2025 will be a massive blow to the RCB. He reportedly has a shoulder niggle and he had missed the last game against the CSK on May 3.
With 16 points from 11 games, RCB are placed second on the IPL 2025 points table so far as well. Hazlewood (18 wickets at an economy rate of 8.44 in 10 games) is RCB’s highest wicket-taker this season as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “There are indications that some players might not come. It’s being said that Josh Hazlewood is completely ruled out. There is some problem with his shoulder. He didn’t play the last match, and he won’t play now. LSG vs RCB might be the first match on resumption and the Punjab-Delhi match might be slotted somewhere in the middle,” Chopra said.
“However, it seems like Josh Hazlewood won’t be there in that, and that is a huge blow to RCB’s chances. (Lungi) Ngidi did the job in one match, but let’s be honest, you won the match by two runs, by the skin of your teeth. In that too, Romario Shepherd made an unbelievable contribution. So that game went in RCB’s favor,” he again added.
ALSO READ: “Aap Lucknow ke naye nawab hain” – Aakash Chopra on Rishabh Pant’s appointment as LSG captain
He also stated that Tim David’s potential unavailability could be another huge blow to RCB’s hopes as well.
“Secondly, it’s been heard that the Australians are a little unsure. So if Tim David doesn’t come, things will look really grim and gloomy when I think about it from RCB’s point of view. I really hope that Tim David comes because if he doesn’t, you won’t get anyone like him,” Chopra stated.
ALSO READ: “In the next T20 World Cup in India, he’ll be number one bowler” – Mohammad Kaif on Varun Chakravarthy
However, Aakash Chopra also named the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) as the other franchises that might be impacted due to the Australian players’ potential absence as well.
“Mitchell Starc was with Delhi. So they will also be at a loss if he doesn’t come. Who are the other Australians whose unavailability would change the world a lot – Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis. Mumbai don’t have anyone. Gujarat also don’t have anyone. Punjab’s overseas contingent is entirely Australian, if we leave aside Marco Jansen. It’s been heard that Ricky Ponting hasn’t left at all, but I don’t know about the rest. If they don’t come, there is a bit of a problem. It won’t matter to the teams that don’t have a chance to qualify. It won’t make a difference to Hyderabad if Pat Cummins doesn’t wish to come,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
