'Five teams can finish on 18 points' - Aakash Chopra on RCB's qualification chances for IPL 2025 Playoffs

Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra spoke about Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)'s chances of winning the IPL 2025 following their thrilling two-run win over CSK in the 52nd match of the season on Saturday.

The game played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru saw the hosts claim a nail-biting encounter against arch-rivals Chennai, which has taken them to the top spot of the Points Table. Opening up on the same recently, Chopra claimed that there has not been an instance when a team with 16 points failed to qualify for the playoffs, despite knowing the fact that five teams could finish with 18 points in 2025.

"It has never happened that ever since we've had the 14-match league, there are teams with 16 points that did not make it to the playoffs. At this point, of course, five teams can finish on 18, but 16 should be enough in the end. They're now eyeing the one and two spot and not really the qualification. The 'Q' is not in front of the name yet, but I feel it is already there," Chopra said via JioHotstar. 

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You start believing that the stars are aligning: Chopra

The ex-India batter claimed that despite the absence of key players like Phil Salt and Josh Hazlewood, RCB claimed a win. He felt players like Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal, and Lungi Ngidi stepping up were the signs of stars aligning for them to win their maiden IPL title.

"You thought this was a game where you'd win easily, and then you lost Phil Salt and Josh Hazlewood. But you say, 'No problem, sir.' If there's no Phil Salt, I've got Jacob Bethell. If I don't have Josh Hazlewood, I'll have Lungi Ngidi, who will do the same job-maybe even better," Chopra added.

"Then Yash Dayal holds his nerves in the end. Suyash bowls that sixth over, Ngidi takes two wickets, is on a hat-trick, and gives only eight runs in that over. This is when you start believing that, you know, the stars are aligning for me," the Agra-born concluded.