Royal Challengers Bengaluru have received a significant morale boost ahead of IPL 2026 with Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood rejoining the squad in India. However, head coach Andy Flower has confirmed that the experienced pacer will not feature in the team’s opening clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Hazlewood’s return comes at a crucial time for the defending champions, especially after Sri Lankan seamer Nuwan Thushara was ruled out of the entire tournament. Despite not being match-ready for the first game, the Australian quick’s presence has lifted the dressing room atmosphere and strengthened RCB’s bowling depth.
The right-arm pacer has been recovering from hamstring and Achilles injuries that sidelined him during the recent Ashes series and the ICC T20 World Cup. Last season, Hazlewood played a pivotal role in RCB’s title-winning campaign, claiming 22 wickets in just 12 matches at an outstanding average of 17.54.
Providing an update, Andy Flower stated that Hazlewood has arrived in good shape but needs time to regain full match fitness. He added that the team management will carefully assess his progress before bringing him back into the playing XI.
With Hazlewood unavailable for the opener and Thushara out, RCB are expected to depend heavily on their Indian pace attack in the early phase of the tournament. Veteran swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar is likely to lead the unit, while young talents like Rasikh Salam and Mangesh Yadav are in contention to support him.
Flower expressed confidence in the domestic bowlers, highlighting their improvement and readiness to perform on the big stage. He emphasized that players like Rasikh, Mangesh, and Abhinandan have shown strong development and could make a meaningful impact when given opportunities this season.
