Bengaluru, March 13: Australia’s right-arm fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been sidelined from cricket for an extended period due to injuries. With doubts surrounding his participation in IPL 2026, Hazlewood has already missed the Ashes and the T20 World Cup 2026.
According to reports, Hazlewood is currently dealing with hamstring and Achilles tendon injuries and remains under the supervision of physiotherapists while awaiting clearance from the medical team to play. He can only be part of the league once he is fully fit.
If Hazlewood is unable to recover in time and is not available for RCB, the team’s bowling strength in IPL 2026 will be significantly weakened. Last season, Hazlewood proved to be a crucial player for RCB, taking 22 wickets in 12 matches and playing a key role in leading the team to its first championship title in the league’s 18th season.
Hazlewood sustained a right hamstring injury while playing for New South Wales in November, which ruled him out of the first Test of the Ashes. Subsequently, he faced a new Achilles tendon injury that kept him out of the entire Ashes series and the T20 World Cup as well.
Hazlewood’s IPL career has also been marred by injuries, similar to his international career, having taken 57 wickets in 39 IPL matches.
RCB will kick off IPL 2026 with a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. There are also doubts regarding SRH captain Pat Cummins’ participation, as he is undergoing recovery. Under Cummins’ captaincy, SRH has built a significant fan base with their explosive gameplay.