RCB fans, breathe—and get a stress ball. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru were soaring high in IPL 2025, and now their biliary tube Josh Hazlewood is facing a potentially rocky road ahead. Hazlewood has had a slight problem with his shoulder, which is why he has missed some of the last few games, and now his return for the rest of the season looks somewhat in doubt. The competition is on hiatus, and it will resume—just a matter of time—but one thing RCB did not want in its hunt for glory is ambiguity.
Hazlewood has been a key figure in RCB’s season, with some phenomenal new-ball bowling and key death bowling. Losing him would leave a significant crack in what seems like a well-oiled machine coming out of the last few games.
Hazlewood’s Impact: More Than Just Wickets
Let’s face it – Josh Hazlewood hasn’t just produced good performances; he’s become a match-winner. He currently has 18 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 17.27, making him the third highest wicket-taker so far, and he was even higher for a time in the race for the Purple Cap. Hazlewood’s 19th over was the watershed moment! At the time, Rajasthan needed 18 runs off 12 deliveries to chase down RCB’s total and all of the momentum! Hazlewood had taken all of that momentum away, and at the end of the over, Rajasthan needed 17 runs off the final over!
It’s a kind of magic not seen elsewhere. It’s not just the numbers—it’s the timing of his wickets and his composure under pressure. Finding a mid-season player at that level of experience and reliability is more challenging than simply plugging in any other overseas quick.
Replacing the Aussie Ace: Who Steps Up?
When Hazlewood was unavailable, Lungi Ngidi stepped in, and while the South African pace bowler has serious talent, he has not fully settled into the RCB method yet. The bowling attack constructed from Hazlewood’s consistency now has to shift gears. And as the tournament is set to restart soon—most likely around May 15 or 16—the speed of that shift is crucial.
At the same time, RCB captain Rajat Patidar is dealing with a finger injury. So, it’s not just a bowler; there is a leader gone, and there are changes to their XI at an important time.
If Hazlewood doesn’t return, RCB may have to go with their domestic players more often, or they will have to change their whole overseas balance. They are not in panic mode yet, but the margin for error is getting small as the playoffs approach.
Read Also: How Suyash Sharma Fought His Way Back into RCB’s XI
RCB’s Dream Run—Can They Keep It Alive?
Let’s also not forget the good stuff: they are sitting second in the points table with 8 wins from 11 completed matches. That is a nice position to be in going into the closing stages of the tournament. And the bonus is that they won all six of their away matches – the first franchise in IPL history to do so!
That stat alone highlights the squad’s grit and camaraderie this season. The tournament break—and possible absence of Hazlewood—could easily tip the scales. Will the break slow their momentum down, or provide injured players like Patidar and Hazlewood a chance to get healthy, just in time for a blockbuster ending?
Time will tell—and possibly some physios! What do you think, RCB fans? Is Hazlewood coming back on time, or is it next man up for the men in red and gold?
Give us your thoughts in the comments.
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