Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) face an important decision ahead ipl 2026 seasonJosh Hazlewood’s persistent injuries have raised doubts over his availability. The Australian pacer, retained by RCB for ₹10.75 crore despite missing most of the matches this summer, has taken 57 IPL wickets at a strike rate of 15.21 but has played just 15 matches since 2023 due to side strain and Achilles problems.
IPL 2026: 3 possible replacements for injured Josh Hazlewood
1) Jhay Richardson
Jhye Richardson has emerged as RCB’s prime target for Hazlewood, mixing raw pace with death-over nerve. The 29-year-old right-handed batsman has taken 27 IPL wickets in 24 matches for Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians at an economy of 8.15 and a strike rate of 17.4 balls per wicket – which is better than Hazlewood’s IPL mark. His extraordinary 2025 Big Bash League yielded 18 wickets in 10 innings at an economy of 7.92, including a best performance of 4/16, while in The Hundred, he took 12 wickets in 8 matches at 7.45 runs per over.
Richardson’s 145 kmph pace and late reverse swing ability make him ideal for Chinnaswamy’s dew factor.
2) Alzarri Joseph
West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph provided raw 150kmph thunder to fill Hazlewood’s enforcer void with proven IPL bite. The 29-year-old right-hander took 21 wickets at an economy of 9.55 in 22 IPL matches for Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians and RCB, topping the bowling figures with 6/12 in his debut season. In his 2025 CPL, he took 18 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 8.45, while in the T20 Blast he took 14 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 7.90 runs per over.
Joseph’s bouncer barrage and seam movement suits RCB’s aggressive template, providing wickets in the middle overs. At a base price close to ₹2 crore, he fits in as a high-impact overseas option.
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3) vian mulder
vian mulder Provides RCB with dual utility as a seam-bowling all-rounder, covering Hazlewood’s workload while adding middle-order muscle. The 28-year-old South African has limited experience in the IPL, but he impressed in the T20 Blast 2025 with 16 wickets at an economy of 7.88 and a batting strike rate of 132 in 12 innings. His Test record shows 40 wickets at 28.45 average, which switched to T20 through SA20, where he took 10 wickets at 8.10 economy plus 112 runs in 8 matches.
Mulder’s ability to bowl cutters in the middle overs (strike rate 18.5 in T20s) and bat at No. 7 mirrors Hazlewood’s discipline without injury.
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