CSK vs RCB: Josh Hazlewood, the showstopper at the heart of Bengaluru’s red-hot start to the season

Much to the delight of their massive and loyal fanbase, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have begun their IPL 2025 campaign in dominant fashion, winning their opening two games with commanding performances. At the heart of their success has been Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, whose exceptional bowling spells in Kolkata and Chennai have provided the spark that RCB desperately needed in the early stages of their campaign. Returning after an extended injury-ridden period, Hazlewood, once branded a Test specialist, has been a game-changer, making an immediate impact with his control, bounce, and accuracy.

A statement of intent in Kolkata

RCB kicked off their campaign at Eden Gardens against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a team that had historically troubled them, especially at the Eden Gardens. But bowing first, Hazlewood set the tone for the season, suffocating KKR’s batting line-up with a clinical spell of 2 for 22 in four overs. He removed Quinton de Kock early in his opening spell, denying KKR a strong start and later dismissed Harshit Rana in the death overs to keep the opposition in check.

Beyond the wickets, what truly stood out was his precision — 16 dot balls, an economy rate of just 5.50 and an unwavering discipline in length selection. He relied on short-of-a-good-length deliveries to extract bounce and trouble batters, a strategy that worked to perfection on a surface that had been under covers for two days due to the rainy weather.

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Hazlewood, who returned to RCB as their most expensive auction buy this time at Rs 12.50 crore (approximately US$ 1.49 million), justified his price tag in an emphatic manner. Despite RCB carrying a four-match losing streak against KKR, the Aussie quick ensured they played with a fresh mindset. His fitness concerns were put to rest as he confidently stated post-match that bowling four T20 overs does not strain him and he expects to only get stronger as the tournament progresses.

The Chepauk masterclass

If Hazlewood’s spell in Kolkata was impressive, his performance at Chepauk against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday night was nothing short of a masterclass. RCB had not beaten CSK in Chennai since the inaugural IPL season in 2008, but the visitors turned the script around in emphatic fashion, thrashing the five-time champions by 50 runs . It was CSK’s biggest-ever defeat at home and Hazlewood played a pivotal role in scripting that record.

Hazlewood delivers! 🔥

First #RahulTripathi, then the big one — #CSK skipper #RuturajGaikwad! 💥

Is this the night #RCB script history at Chepauk? ❤

Watch LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/MOqwTBm0TB#IPLonJioStar 👉 #CSKvRCB | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star… pic.twitter.com/X5sEXxngS7

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 28, 2025

Impact Shorts

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On a pitch where RCB’s batters had to work hard for their runs, the real question was how CSK would handle the challenge of facing RCB’s pace attack. Hazlewood, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, exploited the conditions beautifully with the new ball in their defence of 198. While Bhuvneshwar focused on swing, Hazlewood relentlessly attacked the batters with steep bounce and seam movement. His discipline in hitting the hard lengths was remarkable — every single delivery bowled by him in the powerplay was pitched in the 6-10 meter range, suffocating CSK’s top order.

His first over was a dream spell — two wickets in six balls. Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad, both of whom are known for their ability to handle pace, were undone by Hazlewood’s awkward bounce. The CSK batting line-up never recovered from this early jolt, crumbling under relentless pressure. Hazlewood finished with figures of 3 for 21 in four overs, including a staggering 15 dot balls, leaving CSK’s famed batting order in tatters. Even MS Dhoni’s late cameo at No 9 could not salvage the chase, as the likes of Yash Dayal along with the RCB spinners took over to close out the game.

A fresh and fearsome Hazlewood

What has been most remarkable about Hazlewood’s performance so far is the freshness he brings to the attack. Coming off a long injury lay-off, the 34-year-old has looked sharper than ever. He has openly admitted that past IPL seasons saw him dealing with fatigue due to non-stop cricket, but this time, the break since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has worked in his favour. He has returned mentally and physically refreshed and the results have been evident.

His ability to combine pace, extra-bounce and discipline makes him a nightmare for opposition batters. Unlike many fast bowlers who struggle to find rhythm after returning from injury, Hazlewood has seamlessly slotted into his role as RCB’s pace spearhead. His new-ball spells have dictated terms in both matches, giving RCB an edge they have often lacked in the powerplay in previous seasons.

The road ahead

With two wins in two games, RCB have emerged as early contenders in IPL 2025 and Hazlewood’s form will be crucial in maintaining their momentum. While batting firepower has always been RCB’s forte, having a bowler of Hazlewood’s calibre leading the pace attack adds a new dimension to their team balance. If he continues to bowl with the same venom, RCB might finally have the bowling attack needed to complement their explosive batting line-up.

However, a significant challenge awaits Hazlewood in RCB’s upcoming home games at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, a venue notorious for high-scoring matches and small boundaries.

Unlike Chepauk or Eden Gardens, where he could use the pitch conditions to his advantage, Chinnaswamy’s flat track and shorter dimensions mean that even his well-directed short balls could be punished. Batters can use his extra bounce to their benefit and even top edges or mistimed shots have a higher chance of clearing the ropes. Hazlewood will need to adjust his lengths smartly and mix up his pace variations to counter the aggressive approach that teams tend to adopt at this ground.