RCB, Gujarat Titans handed striking blow by BCCI right before IPL 2025 resumption

The former Indian player Aakash Chopra opened up about the IPL 2025 revised schedule. Chopra stated that the change in play would be a bit of a disadvantage to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will not play their last game at home anymore. Earlier, before the suspension of the tournament, RCB were set to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their last league game at their home ground.

They will play their home match against KKR first now and the change of play will give a disadvantage to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, According to Chopra.

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Aakash Chopra reckons a disadvantage to RCB

Aakash Chopra first talked about the disadvantage to RCB after the revised schedule, but in the video that he shared on YouTube, he also talked about the unnecessary advantage they are getting after the revised schedule.

"RCB were supposed to play their last game at home. That match was against KKR. Now that's not the case. They will play their home matches first now, and their last match will be against Lucknow in Lucknow. If you see it from that point of view, they are hard done by," he said

"However, I am saying they have benefited. They don't play very well at home in any case, and they haven't yet lost away. They have won all six. More importantly, they are playing the league's last game. The last league game is RCB vs LSG," Chopra reasoned.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's playoff qualification scenario

Currently, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are in second position in the points table with 16 points in 11 matches. They need only one win to qualify for the playoffs, but they are a heavy favourite to finish in the top 2 this season.

Bengaluru need to win at least two out of three matches to secure a spot in Qualifier 1. The top 2 teams have the edge in the playoffs.

Last time when a team outside top 2 spot won the IPL was way back in 2016. Sunrisers Hyderabad crowned as champion in the IPL 2016, they finished the league stage on third spot.

Aakash Chopra thinks Gujarat Titans can also find difficulties in revised schedule

In the same video, Aakash Chopra thinks that, same like RCB, Gujarat Titans will also have a potential disadvantage in the revised schedule of IPL 2025.

Gujarat has three matches left in the league stage, and they are currently table toppers in the IPL 2025. They don’t have the match on the last or the second last day.

Gujarat have their last match in the afternoon match and then they will have to wait for two days to find out their opponent in the playoffs.

"Gujarat had a match on the last day. Not the last match, but they had an afternoon match on the last league day. Now that's not the case. Now they don't have it on the second-last or the last day,"

"So it could be a problem for them for sure because what is in RCB's benefit was in GT's benefit earlier, but it's no longer in GT's benefit. The good thing for GT is that their home games remain at home," Aakash Chopra responded.

Gujarat’s first match is in Delhi against Delhi Capitals on May 18. After that, their last two matches are on their home ground against Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings on May 22 and 25, respectively.