Josh Hazlewood’s IPL 2026 Participation in Doubt Amid Injury Concerns

Will Josh Hazlewood be ready to take the field for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2026? As of now, the answer remains uncertain.

Hazlewood has recently linked up with RCB ahead of the upcoming season, but he was notably absent from the practice session on March 26 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This absence raises concerns about his fitness and readiness to compete.

The Australian pacer has been sidelined from cricket for an extended period due to hamstring and Achilles tendon injuries, missing both the entire Ashes series and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. His last competitive appearance was during RCB’s maiden IPL triumph last season, where he impressively took 22 wickets in 12 matches.

Mo Bobat, RCB’s Director of Cricket, provided insight into Hazlewood’s current situation, stating, “So, as most people would know, Josh has missed quite a bit of cricket recently with injuries.” He emphasized that the team is in close communication with both Hazlewood and Cricket Australia regarding his rehabilitation.

Bobat added, “As soon as he gets to a point where Cricket Australia are happy, he’ll come over.” This indicates that Hazlewood’s return is contingent upon the approval of Cricket Australia, which is still evaluating his condition.

As the IPL 2026 season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad approaches on March 28, the uncertainty surrounding Hazlewood’s participation looms large. Several overseas players, including him, are expected to miss the start of the tournament due to injuries.

While Hazlewood continues his rehab process back in Australia, the timeline for his return to play remains unclear. Details remain unconfirmed, leaving fans and the team in suspense.

Hazlewood’s absence would be a significant blow to RCB, as his contributions were pivotal to their success last season. The team will need to navigate the early matches without one of their key players, should he not recover in time.

As the situation develops, all eyes will be on Hazlewood’s progress and the decisions made by Cricket Australia regarding his fitness. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether he can make a timely return to the IPL stage.