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"No Better Place Than IPL" Hazlewood Takes Dig At WTC Players For Leaving Midway

Akshita Patel

Josh Hazlewood opens up on IPL return [Source: @cricketcomau/X.com]Josh Hazlewood opens up on IPL return [Source: @cricketcomau/X.com]

While many overseas stars have left the IPL 2025 to prepare for the World Test Championship final, Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood chose to stay and play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). His choice was fruitful as he assisted RCB to reach the IPL final for the first time since 2016.

Hazlewood, who recently returned from a shoulder injury, played his first match since April 27 and impressed with figures of 3/21 against Punjab Kings. He dismissed crucial batters such as Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis and shattered the backbone of PBKS's batting.

After the game, the pacer explained why he chose to return to India and took a subtle dig at those who chose not to return to IPL 2025.

Josh Hazlewood Reacts To IPL Return After Injury

The IPL 2025 season was suspended after May 8 due to the India-Pakistan border conflict. Hence, most overseas players left India to prepare for the WTC 2025 final scheduled between Australia and South Africa.

However, Josh Hazlewood returned to play for RCB despite a shoulder injury. Explaining his thoughts behind the decision, he said bowling in IPL is the best possible way to prepare for WTC. Hazlewood believes the match practice he’s getting in the IPL will help him stay sharp for the big game. 

"I've got to be bowling, you know wherever I am in the world, I've got to be bowling getting ready for that game (WTC final) anyway. There's no better place than I think out in the middle, obviously you've got to bowl more, more hours of training from time to time to build up for a Test, but to get that intensity right up, there's no better place than the IPL. I was happy with tonight, the wicket helped obviously didn't it? Not having to bowl fast yorkers or anything like that. So yeah it is feeling good to be back," Hazlewood said.

Interestingly, Hazlewood has taken 21 wickets in just 11 games this IPL season, making him RCB’s leading wicket-taker despite missing several matches due to injury. He said his shoulder is now feeling good after weeks of hard rehab work.

Hazlewood Moves Up In Purple Cap Race

RCB pacer Josh Hazlewood stormed back into form with 3 wickets against PBKS, moving to No. 3 on the Purple Cap table with 21 wickets in 11 games. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli stayed at No. 5 on the Orange Cap chart after scoring 12 runs, taking his season tally to 614. 

Sai Sudharsan is leading with 679, while Noor Ahmad leads the bowlers with 24 wickets as the IPL 2025 final nears.