As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) prepare to defend their maiden title in IPL 2026, all eyes are on their pace spearhead, Josh Hazlewood. After a career-defining 2025 season where he led the franchise to glory, "The Hoff" remains the backbone of the RCB bowling attack.

Injury Update

As of March 27, 2026, Josh Hazlewood has officially joined the RCB camp. However, he is likely to miss the season opener against SRH due to minor hamstring and Achilles issues.

Team Impact

Hazlewood’s metronomic accuracy and steep bounce make him one of the most difficult bowlers to score against, especially at the high-scoring M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.