Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reckons Royal Challengers Bengaluru would not want to face Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 final. RCB qualified for the summit clash after registering a comprehensive eight-wicket win against Punjab Kings in the first qualifier at Mullanpur on Thursday.

This is the fourth time when RCB have made it to the final of the IPL. Ashwin said RCB would hope that Gujarat Titans end Mumbai Indians’ campaign by beating them in the eliminator on Friday.

Meanwhile, no team that has finished at the fourth place in the IPL standings have gone on to win the title but one would never want to bet against a champion team like MI, which has won the IPL trophy on five occasions.

“If RCB have to win the IPL, then Gujarat Titans should win against Mumbai Indians. MI are one team that you cannot allow to enter the final, you have to stop them at any cost,” Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.

“RCB will keep their fingers crossed to not have Mumbai Indians in the final. The Mumbai Indians are the only team that has a chance against RCB. It looks like RCB are going the distance, but it is cricket; anything can happen,” Ashwin said.

“Virat Kohli, I want to tell you all one thing. I don’t want to make it about Virat Kohli, but I cannot help but feel that this is RCB’s year. Virat Kohli did not have an ICC title; people constantly used to say this,” Ashwin added.

Meanwhile, when RCB and MI met earlier in the season, the former registered a 12-run win. Rajat Patidar had scored a match-winning knock of 32-ball 64 in that game.

MI will take on GT in the eliminator on Friday. The winner of this game will face Punjab Kings in the second qualifier on Sunday.