Aakash Chopra says RCB and Delhi will both be pegged back a little if if potential Australian pacers don’t return

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes RCB and Delhi will both be pegged back a little in the rest of the IPL 2025 if Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc don’t return. While Hazlewood is reported to return back to India, there is no confirmation on Mitchell Starc’s status. 

Hazlewood has scalped 18 wickets in 10 matches for RCB this season and has played a key role in the team’s success. On the other hand, Starc has bagged 14 wickets in 11 games for DC and he has been the team’s pack leader. DC have replaced Jake Fraser-McGurk with Mustafizur Rahman but the Bangladeshi bowler is awaiting NOC from BCB.

Meanwhile, RCB are in second place in the standings with 16 points, after eight wins in 11 games whereas DC are in fifth spot in the ladder with 13 points after 11 matches.

“Just like it’s being said that Josh Hazlewood won’t come for RCB, it seems like Mitchell Starc won’t come. If Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood don’t come, RCB and Delhi will both be pegged back a little. I have also heard that Jake Fraser-McGurk is not coming. Even if he was coming, he wasn’t playing in any case. So him not coming won’t make a huge difference,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

The renowned commentator added the teams with more Australian players will be impacted in the rest of the IPL.

“Cricket Australia have said that the players can take a call on whether they want to go or not. I don’t know who will return and who won’t. Teams have started calling them back, but we really don’t know who would be available. I think whoever has more Australians will get stuck a little,” he observed.

Chopra noted that RCB opener Phil Salt will be available for the franchise as England’s T20Is against the West Indies are scheduled to take place after the IPL final.

“The qualifiers will start from the 29th. Another news is that England have matches against the West Indies – three ODIs and three T20Is. The T20Is are after the final. There could have been a question about Phil Salt’s availability, but since it’s after the final, he is available,” he said.

IPL 2025 will resume on Saturday.