Josh Hazlewood was unable to play in the highly anticipated match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. The Australian pacer, who has yet to make an appearance for RCB in the ongoing IPL 2026 season, is still working on attaining match fitness.
In Hazlewood’s absence, Jacob Duffy will continue to spearhead the bowling attack alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar for RCB. Captain Rajat Patidar confirmed that the team will stick with the same playing XI for this crucial encounter.
Hazlewood has been dealing with hamstring and Achilles issues, which also kept him out of the recent Ashes series and the T20 World Cup 2026 for Australia. Despite his absence, RCB is determined to put up a strong performance against CSK.
Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to field first, putting RCB in to bat. Both teams have opted for an unchanged playing XI for this match, showcasing confidence in their respective lineups.
As the teams gear up for this exciting clash, fans are eagerly anticipating a thrilling contest between these two powerhouse franchises in the IPL. The match promises to be a high-stakes encounter with both teams aiming for a crucial victory in the tournament.
Published on Apr 05, 2026.
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