Josh Hazlewood Joins RCB for IPL 2026 Amid Injury Concerns

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has officially joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the IPL 2026 season, although he will miss the initial matches due to ongoing injury recovery. The BCCI has also released the schedule for the tournament, detailing match venues and dates. RCB fans are eager to see Hazlewood's impact, especially after his pivotal role in the team's previous title win. The excitement builds as the tournament opener approaches, featuring RCB against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 26, 2026, 23:39 IST

Josh Hazlewood's Arrival at RCB

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has officially joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This announcement was made by the franchise on their social media platforms. Hazlewood's inclusion is considered a major enhancement to RCB's bowling lineup, given his extensive experience and achievements in both domestic and international cricket.

Injury Update: Hazlewood to Miss Initial Matches

Despite his arrival, RCB will start the tournament without their star pacer, as Hazlewood is still recovering from hamstring and Achilles injuries. He also missed the home Ashes series against England last year and was unable to participate in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup held in India and Sri Lanka.

Hazlewood played a crucial role in RCB's first IPL title victory, taking 22 wickets in 12 matches with an impressive average of 17.54.

IPL 2026 Schedule Released by BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule for the second phase of IPL 2026. The venues for the playoffs will be disclosed later.

The remaining league matches, totaling 50, are set to take place from April 13 to May 24 across 12 venues in India.

The matches will be hosted in cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Dharamsala, Raipur, and New Chandigarh.

Phase 1 and Tournament Opener Details

Previously, the BCCI revealed the schedule for the first phase of IPL 2026, which will run from March 28 to April 12.

The tournament will kick off with the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), facing off against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A total of 20 matches will be played across 10 venues during this phase, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad.