Josh Hazlewood will not play for RCB in IPL 2026

Josh Hazlewood: This is a significant setback for the defending champions as they prepare to open their title defense. The reports regarding Josh Hazlewood missing the start of IPL 2026 match the current situation in the lead-up to the tournament. Josh Hazlewood will not play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2026.

Hazlewood is currently recovering from a combination of hamstring and Achilles tendon injuries. These are the same issues that forced him to miss both the 2025-26 Ashes and the 2026 T20 World Cup. He is currently under the care of physios in Sydney and has yet to receive medical clearance from Cricket Australia.

He is officially ruled out of the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28. He is expected to join the RCB squad later in the tournament, likely by the second week of April, provided his rehabilitation stays on track.

Since Hazlewood was the backbone of RCB’s bowling during their 2025 championship run (taking 22 wickets in 12 matches), his absence creates a temporary void in the pace department for several high-profile games:

March 28 – Sunrisers Hyderabad – Bengaluru

April 5 – Chennai Super Kings – Bengaluru

April 10 – Rajasthan Royals – Guwahati

April 12 – Mumbai Indians – Mumbai

With Hazlewood sidelined, the Rajat Patidar-led side will likely look to these options to lead the attack:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The veteran Indian seamer will take on the primary responsibility during the powerplay.

Nuwan Thushara: The Sri Lankan “slinger” is a strong contender for the overseas pacer slot.

Jacob Duffy: The New Zealander provides another reliable overseas option if they want a more traditional seam-and-swing profile.

Interestingly, SRH is facing a similar crisis, as their captain and lead pacer Pat Cummins is also expected to miss the opening matches due to injury, making the first game a battle of depth for both sides.