Predicted RCB Playing XI vs CSK: Is Josh Hazlewood fit for IPL comeback?

Josh Hazlewood bowled in the nets two days before the RCB vs CSK match. Does this mean he'll return to competitive cricket after November 2025?

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are hosting cricket’s El Clásico in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face the reigning champions at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The pressing question for RCB is whether they should make any changes to their successful lineup.

Spinners a slight concern

Bowling was a slight concern for Rajat Patidar’s team. Abhinandan Singh, Krunal Pandya, and Suyash Sharma didn’t bowl out. Combined, the spinners, Krunal and Suyash, bowled just 5 overs. This meant that Romario Shepherd was forced to bowl 4 overs. He ended up taking 3 wickets but went for 54 runs.

But one has to consider that Krunal and Suyash won’t struggle in every game. Which means Romario won’t need to deliver 24 balls either. In any case, you don’t really chop and change this early into the season. Especially two players who were an integral part of the title-winning team last year.

Josh Hazlewood fit?

One interesting visual that made it onto social media was Josh Hazlewood bowling in the nets. The Australian fast bowler has been with the team for nearly 2 weeks now. It’s clear that he’s picked up his intensity. Previously, he was bowling alone in the nets with a coach by his side.

Now, as one can see, he’s bowling at batters. From afar, it looks like he’s nearing full fitness. One might’ve even assumed that he’d returned to competitive cricket after 4 months. But a concerning factor is that RCB haven’t said or posted anything else about Hazlewood.

This is rather uncommon. For comparison, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are publicly sharing clips of Cameron Green, whom Cricket Australia (CA) has not authorised to bowl in matches, practicing in the nets. RCB’s silence suggests Hazlewood may not be fully fit, and CA will be unwilling to risk his health.

By rushing him, RCB will suffer. It’s better for him to play a couple of matches at the back end of IPL 2026 than to get injured on his comeback and not play again. One needs to understand that Hazlewood isn’t a spring chicken. He’s 35 already and has had many injury issues in the last couple of years. For now, RCB will and should stick with Jacob Duffy, who was exceptional on his IPL debut.

RCB playing XI vs CSK

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt✈️, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Tim David✈️, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd✈️, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy✈️, Suyash Sharma

Impact Subs: Abhinandan Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Rasikh Salam Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Jacob Bethell✈️