After the IPL 2025 faced a brief suspension due to escalating military tension at the India-Pakistan border, questions were raised over the return of overseas players. While Mitchell Starc opted out after the Dharamshala game was called off midway, Josh Hazlewood made a return for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), delivering a match-winning spell in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 29.
“I’ve got to be bowling” – Hazlewood
Returning from a shoulder injury that had kept him out since April 27, Hazlewood bowled with remarkable control and precision, picking up 3 wickets and helping dismiss PBKS for just 101 runs. His haul included the crucial wickets of skipper Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis, and Azmatullah Omarzai. The RCB pacer now has 21 wickets from 11 games at an average of 15.80 this season, despite missing four league matches.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Hazlewood explained the decision to stay in India rather than join the Australian WTC final camp: “I’ve got to be bowling, you know wherever I am in the world, I’ve got to be bowling getting ready for that game (WTC final) anyway.”
He added: “There’s no better place than I think out in the middle, obviously you’ve got to bowl more, more hours of training from time to time to build up for a Test, but to get that intensity right up, there’s no better place than the IPL.”
Hazlewood emphasised that his T20 approach closely mirrors his Test style: “I don’t bowl too much differently in Test match cricket than tonight.”
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