IPL 2026: Josh Hazlewood shakes off the rust

BENGALURU: Last season, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally snapped their losing streak at home, Josh Hazlewood stood a?t the centre of that turnaround, returning figures of 3/33 in an 11-run win over Rajasthan Royals.Nearly a year later, the Australian once again proved his worth at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, playing a pivotal role with 1/20 in RCB’s victory over Lucknow Super Giants. The win helped RCB maintain their unbeaten run at home this season. Hamstring and Achilles tendinitis issues ruled Hazlewood out for 151 days, including Australia’s underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign. When he returned to competitive cricket against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati earlier this month, there were understandable signs of rust.His very first delivery of the season, a full ball outside off, was dispatched high over deep backward point by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Though Hazlewood eventually had the last laugh in that contest by dismissing the left-hander, he was taken on by young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struck him for a flurry of boundaries.Hazlewood finished that outing with 2/44 in a six-wicket defeat, a performance that hinted he was still finding his rhythm.Having missed the subsequent match against Mumbai Indians, Hazlewood returned on Wednesday night with far greater control and purpose. On a spongy Chinnaswamy surface that offered variable bounce, the 35-year-old delivered a spell built on discipline and precision.Of the 24 balls he bowled, 13 were dot deliveries, effectively stalling LSG’s scoring rate during the crucial early overs.In the three overs he bowled in the first seven overs of the contest, Hazlewood conceded just 10 runs, repeatedly hitting a hard length that proved difficult for the batters to negotiate. His ability to read the conditions and adjust quickly stood out, especially on a pitch that demanded patience and accuracy.Reflecting on his journey back, Hazlewood admitted that his previous outing had been about shaking off the rust. “It was about getting the rust out,” he told the official broadcasters. “It’s been a long road over the last few months.”Preparation and planning, he emphasised, were key. “You’ve got to assess who you’re playing against, what batters are at the other end and the conditions. It was quite a slow wicket and a bit up and down, so I focused on hitting that hard length consistently. It was an all-round effort from the group,” he noted.Over a decade and a half in international cricket notwithstanding, Hazlewood continues to look for ways to evolve. He acknowledged that adding variations remains a work in progress. “I’d like to have a few more variations. As a Test bowler, it’s not always easy to develop slower balls, but it’s something I keep working on. You’ve always got to keep adding to your armoury,” he said.Hazlewood’s teammate Jitesh Sharma believes the recovery phase has helped the pacer get fitter and sharper. “I think he is looking more sharp. His body has gotten rest, so he has become quicker, fitter. He has done a lot of hard work on his injury and he is very confident about his body now,” Sharma said.