RCB Issue Official Statement On Josh Hazlewood’s Future For IPL 2026

Josh Hazlewood in IPL (Source:AFP)Just a few days before the IPL 2026 is set to begin, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru is already facing uncertainty around their key pacer, Josh Hazlewood. RCB will open their IPL 2026 journey against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. After their opening match, RCB will face arch-rivals CSK on April 5, followed by away games against Rajasthan Royals and the Mumbai Indians.However, in recent development, RCB has issued a fresh statement on Josh Hazlewood’s injury and his availability for RCB in IPL 2026.RCB to begin title defence without Josh HazlewoodJosh Hazlewood was one of the standout performers for RCB in IPL 2025, picking up 22 wickets in just 12 matches and playing a vital role in helping the franchise lift their maiden title. His ability to deliver in powerplay and death overs makes him an irreplaceable player in the squad.Unfortunately, the Australian pacer has been struggling with injuries for several months. He first suffered a hamstring injury, which ruled him out of the Ashes opener. During recovery, he sustained an Achilles injury, forcing him to miss both the Ashes series and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.Also Read- RCB New Owner Announced, Manchester United OutAlthough there were expectations that he would recover in time for IPL 2026, the latest update suggests he is still undergoing rehabilitation in Australia. As a result, he will not be available for the early matches of the tournament.RCB in constant touch with Cricket Australia on Josh Hazlewood's injuryRCB's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, addressed the situation and stated that the franchise is closely monitoring Josh Hazlewood’s recovery. He confirmed that RCB is in regular communication with both the player and Cricket Australia.According to Mo Bobat, Hazlewood is currently following a structured return-to-play program. The pacer will only travel to India and join the RCB squad once he receives official medical clearance from Cricket Australia.The franchise remains hopeful that the ace pacer will be available later in the tournament, but no exact timeline has been confirmed. His return will depend entirely on his fitness progress and medical approval."As most people would know, Josh has missed quite a bit of cricket recently with injuries. He’s currently working through a return-to-play programme in Australia, and we are liaising closely with Cricket Australia and our medical teams on a daily basis," Mo Bobat told reporters (as quoted by Hindustan Times)."We’ll continue to communicate with them, and as soon as he gets to a point where Cricket Australia are happy, he’ll come over, and we hope to have him with us very soon," he added.How will RCB's bowling attack look without Josh Hazlewood?Despite the absence of Hazlewood, RCB management has expressed confidence in their squad depth. The team also faces another setback with Yash Dayal unavailable for the entire season due to personal reasons."He's going through a personal situation. He remains under contract," Mo Bobat said as quoted by Cricbuzz.To address the bowling gap, RCB are likely to rely on a mix of domestic and overseas options. Players like Rasikh Dar, Abhinandan Singh, and Mangesh Yadav are expected to step up in the early games.Additionally, experienced Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar will play a crucial role in leading the attack.RCB also have overseas options like Jacob Duffy and Nuwan Thushara, who could be drafted into the playing XI depending on team combinations and match conditions.Also Read: RCB's Overseas Options If Josh Hazlewood Gets Ruled Out Of IPL 2026