Josh Hazlewood Praises RCB Spinners After Dominant Win Over Delhi Capitals

In a thrilling IPL match, Josh Hazlewood's exceptional four-wicket haul propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a decisive victory over Delhi Capitals. After a high-scoring previous game, the RCB bowlers dominated, restricting DC to just 75 runs. Hazlewood praised his teammates, especially the spinners, for their crucial contributions. With this win, RCB solidifies its position in the points table, showcasing their impressive form this season. Discover more about Hazlewood's insights and the match highlights in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 28, 2026, 02:12 IST

Hazlewood's Impressive Performance

New Delhi [India] - Following a remarkable four-wicket haul against the Delhi Capitals (DC) in a tightly contested match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bowler Josh Hazlewood expressed uncertainty about the game after witnessing a high-scoring clash between DC and Punjab Kings (PBKS) just days prior. He commended the spinners for effectively applying pressure through their dot balls.

In a previous match that saw a staggering 529 runs scored, with Punjab successfully chasing down 265 thanks to KL Rahul's record-breaking 152*, the scenario was drastically different two days later. The DC batsmen found it challenging to connect with the ball, often edging it to fielders or struggling with the bounce. Hazlewood, alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar, decimated DC's batting lineup to 8/6 during the powerplay, although the hosts managed to reach 75 runs, which proved insufficient.

The spinners continued the momentum established by the pace attack, with Suyash Sharma (1/7 in four overs) and Krunal Pandya (1/9 in two overs) conceding only 16 runs in six overs while claiming the wickets of Kyle Jamieson and Kuldeep Yadav.

During the post-match interview, Hazlewood remarked, “After witnessing over 500 runs in the last match, we were uncertain about what to expect. I was just following Bhuvneshwar's lead. There was enough assistance in the first six overs, and the ball was skidding off the pitch quickly. Once it softened, it became more even.”

He noted that bowling short balls on such a pitch was advantageous, emphasizing the importance of precision. “When the ball was hard, batting was challenging. It would have been great to bowl four overs and leave the field (laughs). Our spinners contributed significantly, maintaining pressure with dot balls,” he added.

Reflecting on the previous season where RCB won all their away matches, Hazlewood stated that the team has continued from where they left off and is peaking at the right moment. “We have resumed from last season's momentum. We quickly assessed the conditions and adapted our strategies effectively. It feels like we are hitting our stride at the right time,” he concluded.

This season, Hazlewood has claimed eight wickets in five matches, boasting an average of 19.25 and an economy rate of 7.89.

With this victory, RCB has achieved their sixth win in eight games, accumulating 12 points and securing the second position in the points table. Meanwhile, DC's fifth defeat, with three wins, places them seventh.

RCB chose to bowl first, and outstanding performances from Hazlewood (4/12) and Bhuvneshwar (3/5) restricted DC to just 75 runs in 16.3 overs, with Abishek Porel (30) and David Miller (19) providing some resistance. RCB's batting lineup responded aggressively, with Jacob Bethell (20 off 10 balls, including a four and two sixes), Devdutt Padikkal (34* off 13 balls, with three fours and three sixes), and Virat Kohli (25* off 13 balls, featuring a four and two sixes) completing the chase in just 6.3 overs.