Josh Hazlewood Returns to RCB Ahead of IPL 2025 Playoffs
RCB Welcomes Back Josh Hazlewood
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has received a significant boost as Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has rejoined the team just before their final league match against Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Cricket Stadium on May 27.
Initially, there were doubts about Hazlewood's availability for the remainder of the IPL season, as he was focused on preparing for the World Test Championship Final scheduled for June 20. Additionally, he had been dealing with a minor injury that kept him out of a match against Chennai Super Kings.
Hazlewood's Return Clears Doubts
Hazlewood has put an end to the uncertainty surrounding his return by rejoining RCB ahead of the playoffs. In a video shared by RCB on their X account (formerly Twitter), he expressed his enthusiasm about being back for the remaining matches, mentioning that he had bowled several overs in Brisbane to ensure his fitness.
"It's fantastic to be back. I utilized the past week in Brisbane effectively and bowled quite a bit. Everything feels great, and I'm eager to get back into practice," said the Australian pacer.
Impact of Hazlewood's Absence
RCB felt Hazlewood's absence during their recent 42-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where the bowlers allowed 231 runs, setting a daunting target of 232. Despite solid performances from Phil Salt (62) and Virat Kohli (45), RCB fell short, getting all out for 189 in 19.4 overs.
Currently, Hazlewood leads RCB in wickets, having taken 18 scalps at an average of 17.27 and an economy rate of 8.44 across 10 matches.
RCB Aims for a Top-Two Finish
At present, RCB holds the third position on the points table with 8 wins, 4 losses, and one no-result from 13 matches. Their recent defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad has impacted their chances of securing a top-two finish.
However, RCB still has a pathway to achieve this. They must win against Lucknow Super Giants, while Chennai Super Kings need to defeat the Gujarat Titans in their final league matches. If these conditions are met, RCB could reach 19 points, giving them a favorable Net Run Rate (NRR) over Gujarat Titans, thus securing a top-two finish and a place in Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2025 playoffs.