Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is set to get a boost to Josh Hazlewood just before the start of the upcoming IPL 2026. The defending champions will begin their defense against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
However, ahead of the new season, there is a lot of uncertainty over the availability of top Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, and still, there is no official confirmation on the same. The experienced fast bowler is still recovering from hamstring and Achilles injuries.
RCB is expected to get a big benefit from Josh Hazlewood’s arrival in India before IPL 2026.
His match fitness will entirely depend on medical clearance from Cricket Australia. Meanwhile, it is being said that Josh Hazlewood is reaching India on Thursday 26 March to join the RCB camp.
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Even though the Australian fast bowler is arriving ahead of the start of the upcoming IPL 2026, he is almost certain to miss the initial stages of the world’s biggest T20 league, as Cricket Australia is extremely careful about managing his fitness keeping in mind the busy Test schedule ahead.
It is being said that Hazlewood is likely to return only towards the end of the 2026 season. With their strike bowler unavailable for the start of the season, RCB are likely to field Jacob Duffy in his place, as Yash Dayal will also miss the tournament due to his legal battle.
RCB’s bowling is under pressure without Josh Hazlewood
So, Royal Challengers Bangalore are entering IPL 2026 with a big expectation, and that is that Josh Hazlewood will be available as soon as possible. His precise line, strong bounce and cool control make him very difficult to face, no matter what the format. Whenever he is available, RCB look more confident and more dangerous as a team in the tournament.
Hazlewood’s absence could hurt RCB badly as the gap between him and the backup options is huge. Duffy is still getting used to the Indian pitches and conditions, so it would be foolish to expect the same impact from him. Their spin department is also another matter of concern for the defending champions.
Even though Krunal Pandya performed brilliantly in the middle overs last year, his spinners had the worst economy rate during the middle overs, giving rival teams a very easy plan to attack RCB’s slow bowlers and break their pace.
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In the absence of Australian fast bowler, young spinner Suyyash Sharma will have to face a lot of pressure in the middle overs. The overall situation makes one thing clear: RCB’s bowling will be under immense pressure in the upcoming IPL 2026, and like every season, their batsmen will have to do extra work.
No opening ceremony of IPL 2026 as BCCI honors Bengaluru stampede victims
Meanwhile, the BCCI has decided not to hold the usual opening ceremony for IPL 2026 before the season opener, out of respect for the 11 people who lost their lives in the stampede during RCB’s title celebration in Bengaluru on June 4 last year.
However, BCCI is planning a big closing ceremony on May 31. “However, the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council are planning a grand entertainment function at the conclusion of the IPL on the final day (May 31),” Times of India quoted Saikia as saying.