'Group A is the group of death' - Aakash Chopra opens up on new IPL system

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra felt that the new system for IPL 2022 has made it really tough for the teams in Group A compared to the members of Group B. BCCI announced a different type of schedule for the upcoming edition on February 25, which included ten franchises divided into two groups. The franchises will get to play twice against the teams from their group and one more team from the other group while they will play the remaining four teams just once.

The franchises have been divided into groups on basis of their championship titles and the number of finals they have made it. A total of 70 league games will take place and each franchise will play 14 games (7 home and 7 away). IPL rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have placed in different groups but will get to play two games against each other. The cash-rich tournament will get underway from March 26 and the finals will be held on May 29.

Group B is looking slightly easier: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra noted that Group A looks the tougher out of the two as the likes of Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals will get to play against each other. He added CSK will be the happiest team now having two games to play against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans as they look slightly lighter on paper.

“If you get to play twice against weaker teams, your road ahead becomes good. The two groups that have been made, I feel Group A is the group of death, slightly difficult. Just think about it – Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals. They are all very good teams and they will all play against each other twice.

“The remaining teams are in the other group – Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, RCB, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. That group is looking slightly easier. CSK will be happy that they will get to play Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans twice,” Chopra told on his Youtube Channel.

Chopra, however, noted the fact that the groups might not have much of a say as the points table is common for all the franchises. The top four franchises in the IPL points table will qualify automatically for the playoffs and it will be about the number of wins in their 14 games.

“But the truth is also that the top two teams from each group will not qualify. The top four teams in terms of points will qualify, it’s not about the groups. The groups are only for the distribution of matches but the top four teams will be based on the total 14 matches, it is not about Group A or Group B,” Chopra added.