It looks like the defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru will start their IPL 2026 campaign without their star bowler, Josh Hazlewood.
Hazlewood is recovering from an injury that occurred during the home summer. He will miss out on the first two matches of the new IPL season. Due to this injury, he missed the entire Ashes series. Initially, he suffered a hamstring injury before picking up an Achilles injury during the recovery process. In last year’s IPL, he was a key member of the RCB team that won the IPL title. Hazlewood picked 22 wickets at 17.58.
His fellow countryman, Pat Cummins, is also on the list of late arrivals. Cummins will miss a few opening matches of the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He played only one Ashes test this year in mid-December. Since then, he has been in rehabilitation from a back issue that he picked up last July in the Caribbean.
Due to these issues, neither of the fast bowlers from Australia featured in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. Australia eventually got out in the first round itself. For the past few months, Cricket Australia’s medical staff have been monitoring these two closely. They continue to do so. That is why there is an ambiguity over the availability of these two pacers.
For the last couple of seasons, Hazlewood has been one of the best bowlers in the IPL. He was also at his best when he played against India in the white-ball series.
Cummins, on the other hand, has played a significant role in the Hyderabad franchise leadership. He is also an important asset for them in the bowling department.
The Australian selectors were supportive of their two star players when it came to prioritizing national duties over IPL.
Here is what selector Tony Dodemaide said about the players back in February. “It’s a timing issue. If it were in reverse, the IPL was first, and the World Cup was second, then they’d be missing the IPL to play in the World Cup. It’s not going to be frustrating for us at all. We know their commitment to want to play and succeed for Australia.”
Australia would want its star players to stay fit from August onwards, as there are many important tournaments to be played. They have a hectic schedule for the next 16 months that will culminate in the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa.
