Josh Hazlewood Unavailable for IPL 2026 Opener, Confirms RCB Coach Andy Flower
Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has put an end to speculation regarding the availability of Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, confirming that he will not be ready for the team’s opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of RCB’s clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Flower revealed that Hazlewood has only just arrived and will be monitored closely before making his return.
“Hazlewood arrived just yesterday. He looks fit—I even joked that he looks younger than before. He has had some good rest but has also worked hard on his fitness. It’s great to have him here, especially in the dressing room and meetings. However, he won’t be ready for tomorrow’s match as he has just gotten off the flight. We will keep a close watch on his fitness and look forward to his contribution in the IPL,” Flower said.
The 35-year-old pacer played a crucial role in RCB’s title-winning campaign last season, finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets at an economy rate of 8.77.
Flower also spoke about the availability of Indian fast bowlers in the squad, praising young seamers Abhinandan Singh, Rasikh Dar Salam, and Mangesh Yadav for their progress and competition for a place in the playing XI.
“Unfortunately, Yash Dayal is not with us this year. So we have Mangesh, Abhinandan, and Rasikh competing for spots. I won’t reveal who will play tomorrow, but we are happy to have a left-arm seamer like Mangesh in the squad. Abhinandan has shown great improvement, and Rasikh has become a better bowler compared to last year. All three have been working hard and bring valuable qualities to the team,” he added.
With Hazlewood unavailable for the opener, responsibility will be on the Indian pace attack as RCB aims to start their IPL 2026 campaign strongly.
