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Trouble Mounting For RCB! Josh Hazlewood Still Injured; Rehabilitating In Brisbane

Akshita Patel

Josh Hazlewood injured ahead of IPL playoffs [Source: @d3ddxo/X.com]Josh Hazlewood injured ahead of IPL playoffs [Source: @d3ddxo/X.com]

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) qualified for the IPL 2025 season playoffs last night. However, their valuable fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is yet to arrive in India, as he is nursing his shoulder injury in Australia.

Hazlewood was in excellent form in the IPL before a shoulder injury put him on the sidelines. He took 18 wickets in just 10 matches and played a big role in RCB's strong performances. 

After the tournament was suspended due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, Hazlewood travelled back to Australia for rehabilitation.

Josh Hazlewood Is Yet To Land In India

Initially, the Aussie pacer wasn’t expected to continue in IPL, as Australia is prioritising its Test players for the WTC final. However, RCB confirmed that Josh Hazlewood will be back by the playoffs.

Now, in a new twist, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Hazlewood is still in Brisbane and will stay there for the rest of the week to complete his shoulder rehab. He is expected to travel to India only after this rehab is done.

"According to informed sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, Hazlewood is poised to return to India to play with RCB. The 34-year-old will spend next week completing rehabilitation in Brisbane on his shoulder before travelling to India for the play-offs," the Herald said.

Hence, Hazlewood is more or less ruled out for RCB’s upcoming fixture against SRH scheduled for May 23 at Bengaluru. However, the clock is ticking for Bengaluru. The playoffs will begin from May 29, and if the Aussie pace fails to recover by then, RCB’s bowling lineup will suffer significantly.

RCB Sign Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani As Temporary Replacement

In a key move ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have brought in Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi. The change will take effect from May 26. Muzarabani joins the squad for INR 75 lakhs.

Ngidi, who took 3 wickets in his only outing this season, is set to return home for national duty ahead of the WTC final. With Josh Hazlewood still recovering from injury, Muzarabani’s inclusion could strengthen RCB’s pace attack for the crucial knockout stage.