During the two-day IPL 2022 mega auction, Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood was roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for INR 7.75 Crore.
Hazlewood was following the auction sitting at home and when his name appeared on the screen, the 31-year-old found it strange to sit through.
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"I was just sitting at home watching on the couch. It's a strange thing to sit through, when your name comes up and then the bidding starts. It happens pretty quickly. Everyone wants to bowl those difficult overs and really nail them. That's when you get to put up in lights for things like the IPL. It's good to be the man," cricket.com.au quoted Hazlewood as saying.
On the second day of the auction, Josh Hazlewood claimed three wickets in a T20I match against Sri Lanka, and then he conceded just five runs in the Super Over, ensuring Australia’s 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
"Just learning what to bowl at what times to what batters. I know it sounds reasonably simple, but I think doing that planning before the games and knowing who's who, where their strengths are, and where to bowl (is crucial). That probably gives you a little bit more leeway on execution - if you know where their weaknesses are and where their strengths are," said Hazlewood.
"Executing is the number one thing. Hitting those yorkers as I did at the end, mixing it up, and having a few changes of pace to lefties and righties. It's different all the time and depends on the wickets as well. It's a combination of everything but consecutive games and series just to put it into practice, it just gives you that confidence that you can do it," he added.
Royal Challengers Bangalore secured the services of 19 players at the IPL 2022 mega auction and some of the top buys were India seamer Harshal Patel (Rs 10.75 Crore), Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (Rs 10.75 Crore), Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood (Rs 7.75 Crore), and veteran South Africa batter Faf du Plessis (Rs 7 Crore).
The Bangalore-based franchise also bolstered their squad by signing experienced wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik (Rs 5.5 crore), wicketkeeper-batter Anuj Rawat (Rs 3.4 crore), left-arm orthodox bowler & left-hand batter Shahbaz Ahamad (Rs 2.4 crore), West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford (Rs 1 crore).
(With ANI inputs)
