It is concerning news for Royal Challengers Bangalore and its fans that their main bowler Josh Hazlewood may not be able to make an appearance in the upcoming Indian Premier League this year. The Australian fast bowler had a great season last year, being signed by RCB at the mega auction in 2022 for 7.75 crores. During the 12 games he played, Hazlewood picked up 20 wickets with an average of 18.85 and an economy rate of 8.10. His absence will be a huge loss for the Royal Challengers in IPL 2023, and here are the three reasons why:
1) His impact in the previous season
Josh Hazlewood was a reliable player for RCB during the 2022 season, often coming in clutch when the team needed him most. His consistent performances created some defining moments in each match. His accurate and disciplined bowling made it challenging for batters to hit his deliveries successfully. He was the captain’s top choice for the powerplay and middle-overs, which makes his absence a huge loss for the team.
2) Lack of other reliable options
The RCB squad features Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel, David Willey, Siddarth Kaul, and Reece Topley as their pacers. Despite their individual capabilities, they all tend to give away runs at times. Hazlewood was very precise during IPL 2022 and spawned amazing economy rates. With Josh Hazlewood’s absence, the weak foundation of the Challenger’s bowling will be vulnerable, which has been an issue they have yet to be able to address in recent years.
3) Hazlewood’s T20 record
Josh Hazlewood, often considered a bowler more suited to Test cricket, has proven himself to be quite the force in T20s. The tall pacer has taken 124 wickets in 93 matches played in the format at a commendable economy rate of 7.57. In the last few years, he has been particularly impressive and currently sits at the third spot in ICC’s rankings for bowlers. Josh was even at the top due to his excellent performance.
