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Exclusive: 'Bengaluru Smiling': Batting Coach Reviews Josh Hazlewood Reunion With RCB

Akshita Patel

Josh Hazlewood back to RCB for IPL 2025 [Source: @Ayush08__/X.com]Josh Hazlewood back to RCB for IPL 2025 [Source: @Ayush08__/X.com]

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting coach Dinesh Karthik was speaking exclusively to OneCricket when he revealed that reuniting with Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood at the IPL 2025 mega auction was a part of the plan as seeing his previous successful stint with the franchise, the fans were eager to have him. Hence, RCB adhered to the fans’ mandate and signed Hazlewood for INR 12.50 crore.

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood played for RCB for two IPL seasons from 2022-23. In 2022, he picked up 20 wickets in 12 games, whereas his IPL 2023 campaign lasted only 3 games.

Regardless, given his caliber, Josh Hazlewood was re-signed by RCB at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Once LSG and KKR bowed out of the bidding contest, MI and RCB joined the party. With a higher purse, RCB went all in to win the player for INR 12.50 crore. 

Dinesh Karthik overjoyed to sign fan favourite, Hazlewood

Meanwhile, speaking to OneCricket, RCB batting coach Dinesh Karthik said that fans around the city of Bengaluru would be smiling to see Josh Hazlewood back in red colours. 

"Everybody from RCB and and all the fans have all said lets go for Josh Hazlewood and here we have him," DK said on Josh Hazlewood.

Reflecting on Hazlewood’s influence, Karthik pointed out that the year Hazlewood joined, RCB reached the playoffs, largely due to the bowler’s consistency and precision in the death overs. The coach also believes that his presence brings an aura of confidence to the RCB bowling lineup.

"Josh Hazlewood, it was all about who can we get and we got Josh Hazlewood. I think all the bengaluru should be smiling at that option because we have seen what he can do in the year that he came, we qualified and he was such a major and integral part of that attack," he added.

That said, having battled injuries, RCB will be cautious with his workload. To support Josh Hazlewood, RCB also signed Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara and Rasik Salam to form a balanced bowling lineup.