Former India player Aakash Chopra has said that the Mumbai Indians (MI) might be the most affected due to player unavailability for the IPL 2025 playoffs, if they reach that stage as well. He added that while MI will certainly be without Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch, they will also likely to miss Will Jacks as well. Moreover, reports also suggest that all players picked in the South African squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia won’t be there for the IPL 2025 playoffs.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “I feel a little more about Mumbai because their two big players will be missing, and Will Jacks’ story is also not looking good. It seems like he and Jos Buttler will also definitely go. In my opinion, the biggest loss will be for Mumbai because they will lose Ryan Rickelton as an opener and Corbin Bosch, who they might have wanted to play in the playoff stage, if they reach there.”

“It’s a slight loss for Gujarat for sure because Kagiso Rabada is an important cog. However, it’s also true that he wasn’t there for most of the tournament, but when it’s combined with the other issues, it seems like there is a bit of a problem, although there is another news from the Gujarat camp that Kusal Mendis will replace Jos Buttler for the playoffs,” he shared.

However, Aakash Chopra also said that Tim David’s return is a huge positive for the RCB heading into the rest of the IPL 2025.

“RCB are looking better because Romario Shepherd has come. Lungi Ngidi is also there, but he will leave. Tim David has come. That makes a huge difference because if Tim David was among the Australians who don’t want to return, then I was really, really worried,” he said.

“There are reports about Josh Hazlewood as well as the rumor market is hot. It’s been said he might also become available, although the Sydney Morning Herald had reported that neither Josh Hazlewood nor Mitchell Starc would come,” Aakash Chopra concluded.