There is hardly any doubt over Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood‘s credentials. The 32-year-old is not only a force to reckon with in Tests, but shorter formats too, where his tight lines often trouble the batters. But his untimely calf injury might ring alarm bells in the RCB camp. ON Tuesday, Hazlewood could only bowl one over in the Brisbane IND vs AUS Test, before leaving for scans.
Josh Hazlewood Injured, Trouble for RCB?
Cricket Australia later confirmed that Josh Hazlewood won’t be able to take further part in the series. If that is not enough, he had missed the second Test in Adelaide due to a side strain, that puts his IPL 2025 future under immense risk. Having said that, there is no clarity still, as to for how long the pacer will be sidelined — but looking at his tryst with injuries, he could be gone for long.
Mind you, Hazlewood was bought at a staggering price of 12.50 Cr at the IPL Auction, and team RCB would have looked at him as the pace spearhead, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. While, the team does have some decent options if the Aussie is not available, but no one really offers what Hazlewood can, at high-scoring venue Chinnaswamy, in Bengaluru.
For the record, Hazlewood has played 107 T20 games and picked up 136 wickets. What is even better, is his economy rate of only 7.51. IN IPL’s 27 matches, he has picked up 35 wickets, at an economy of 8.05.
RCB Full Squad for IPL 2025
Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone (Rs. 8.75 crore), Phil Salt (Rs. 11.50 crore), Jitesh Sharma (Rs. 11 crore), Josh Hazlewood (Rs. 12.50 crore), Rasikh Dar (Rs. 6 crore), Suyash Sharma (Rs. 2.60 crore), Krunal Pandya (Rs. 5.75 crore), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Rs. 10.75 crore), Swapnil Singh (Rs. 50 lakh), Tim David (Rs. 3 crore), Romario Shepherd (Rs. 1.50 crore), Nuwan Thushara (Rs. 1.60 crore), Manoj Bhandage (Rs. 30 lakh), Jacob Bethell (Rs. 2.60 crore), Devdutt Padikkal (Rs. 2 crore), Swastik Chhikara (Rs. 30 lakh), Lungi Ngidi (Rs. 1 crore), Abhinandan Singh (Rs. 30 lakh), Mohit Rathee (Rs. 30 lakh).