Australia faced a major blow during Day 4 of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India as Josh Hazlewood sustained a calf injury. The fast bowler, who earlier dismissed Virat Kohli with a peach of a delivery, left the field following the injury.
Hazlewood’s injury is a significant concern for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who secured his services for a staggering INR 12.5 Crores. Considering his importance to RCB’s IPL 2025 campaign, his recurring injuries have now created a dilemma for the team management.
Earlier, Hazlewood missed the Adelaide Test due to a side strain and was rushed back for the Gabba game, only to aggravate his fitness issues. With his injury history, it is plausible he might miss parts of IPL 2025. Let’s explore RCB’s potential bowling line-up in his absence.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Lead the Powerplay Attack with Yash Dayal
Hazlewood typically spearheads RCB’s new-ball attack alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar. However, if Hazlewood is unavailable, Yash Dayal could partner Bhuvneshwar in the powerplay.
Dayal, known for his ability to swing the ball and his left-arm angle, could be a valuable asset. Retained by RCB for INR 5 Crores after an impressive IPL 2024, Dayal’s powerplay skills may trouble batters.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, on the other hand, is a proven performer with 72 powerplay wickets at an economy rate of 6.39 in IPL history. His experience and accuracy make him an indispensable part of the line-up.
Lungi Ngidi vs Romario Shepherd: The Third Seamer Debate
RCB could face a tough choice between Lungi Ngidi and Romario Shepherd for the third seamer role. Ngidi’s ability to extract bounce and use variations effectively makes him a strong candidate.
Meanwhile, Romario Shepherd offers all-round value. The West Indian can bowl hard lengths in the middle overs while contributing with the bat in the lower order. If RCB prioritises batting depth on the batting-friendly M. Chinnaswamy pitch, Shepherd might edge out Ngidi.
Spin Department: Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, and Others
Krunal Pandya and Liam Livingstone will play crucial roles in RCB’s spin department. Both offer all-round capabilities and can be effective on spin-friendly surfaces. Additionally, the team could rotate between Swapnil Singh and Suyash Sharma to lead the spin attack, depending on conditions.
Conclusion
RCB’s bowling attack could see a significant reshuffle if Hazlewood’s injury sidelines him for IPL 2025. With options like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Romario Shepherd, and Lungi Ngidi, the team has enough firepower to adapt. Their final combination will likely depend on the conditions and team balance, but Hazlewood’s absence would undoubtedly leave a void.