A positive update for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans, ahead of IPL 2026. Australia’s star pacer Josh Hazelwood is likely to join the team soon. According to posts and information shared on social media platforms, Hazelwood has left Australia to join RCB in India.
revious reports suggested that the premier pacer of Australia and RCB is about to miss multiple IPL matches in the initial stage of the IPL 2026 season. There are some doubts over the bowler’s fitness, as he went through a recovery phase to regain match fitness.
Like the Australian cricket team, Josh Hazelwood is one of the key components of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Without his service, the franchise will lose his bowling strengths to some degree. He was one of the reasons why RCB claimed their maiden IPL title swiftly in 2025. In the previous camping for RCB, he claimed 22 wickets in 12 matches. In this season too, the seamer will have to take a significant role to defend the title, which the franchise earned after 18 years wait.
“If it were in reverse, the IPL was first, and the World Cup was second, then they’d be missing the IPL to play in the World Cup. It’s not going to be frustrating for us at all. We know their commitment to want to play and succeed for Australia,” Australia selector Tony Dodemaide said last month on Cummins and Hazelwood’s participation in the 2026 Indian Premier League.
Hazelwood has been struggling with his injuries since last summer because of hamstring and Achilles issues. Like Cummins, the 35-year-old also missed the T20 World Cup 2026. Cricket Australia kept Hazelwood initially in their T20 WC squad. Later, as he did not recover from the injuries, he was ruled out of the entire tournament.
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