Bad news for RCB! Josh Hazlewood doubtful for IPL 2026 due to THIS reason - Reports
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Josh Hazlewood finished the IPL 2025 as the leading wicket-taker for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
After a long wait, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended the trophy drought and won the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025 under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar. It was a top effort from the entire team, and Australian quick Josh Hazlewood was one of the top performers for the franchise.
Hazlewood finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker for RCB. He finished the season with 22 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 8.77. His 3/21 against Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 helped RCB reach the final.
As a result, the franchise retained him ahead of the IPL 2026 auction for his price of INR 12.50 crore. He is likely to be a big weapon for the team as they head into the next season to defend their title. However, RCB might suffer a body blow as the star pacer might miss the tournament.
Josh Hazlewood doubtful for IPL 2026 due to injury
The schedule for the first leg of the group stage of the IPL 2026 has been revealed. The defending champion, RCB, are ready to put their title on the line. They will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the tournament’s opener on March 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
But ahead of the start of the season, there is a massive concern for RCB and their fans. There are clouds of uncertainty over the participation of Hazlewood in the IPL 2026 as star pacer might not be able to feature in full season.
Hazlewood has been out of action for a while due to calf and hamstring injuries. His last competitive match was in November 2025, and his last international match was against India in October 2025 at MCG. Since then, he has been struggling with fitness. Meanwhile, he missed the Ashes 2025-26 and T20 World Cup 2026.
And now, as per reports from Hindustan Times, the pacer might take more time to recover completely. It has come as a big blow for the current champions. Hazlewood has been the backbone of the bowling unit, and his ability to take wickets and contain the batters has been valuable for them.
Adding to this, RCB are already going through a tough time in regard to the legal issue with another quick, Yash Dayal. The pace trio of Hazlewood, Dayal, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the core part of their bowling. And if Hazlewood and Dayal miss out, it can hurt their campaign to a big extent.
Who won the Indian Premier League 2025?
RCB won the IPL 2025, beating Punjab Kings in the final.
Who was the leading wicket-taker for RCB in the IPL 2025?
With 22 wickets in 12 matches, Josh Hazlewood finished as the highest wicket-taker for RCB in the IPL 2025.
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Karan Rawat is a seasoned cricket writer with a deep passion for the game and over 5 years of experience covering everything that the game can offer. He loves to share the analysis, match reports, and player profiles and tries to bring stories to life with a unique blend of statistics and storytelling. Whether breaking down Test match tactics or capturing the drama of a T20 thriller, Karan's work connects fans with the soul of the sport.