As the BCCI mulls over resuming IPL 2025 following a temporary suspension due to India-Pakistan conflict at the border, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could be forced to complete the season without their strike fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.
The Australian pacer, who was nursing a shoulder niggle, hadn’t featured in RCB's home clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 3 and was uncertain for their next fixture before the tournament was suspended with immediate effect on May 9.
Now, with the World Test Championship (WTC) final around the corner, his return to India for the IPL looks highly unlikely.
Hazlewood, who had undergone an intense rehabilitation earlier this year to recover from a string of injuries, was using the IPL as a platform to regain rhythm.
Despite his progress, Cricket Australia is expected to take a cautious approach. With a pre-WTC final conditioning camp scheduled in England in early June, his inclusion in the Test squad is a certainty, and a return to the IPL seems unnecessary.
Meanwhile, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar is currently recovering from a finger injury. He was set to miss at least two matches had IPL 2025 not been suspended. The tournament's temporary pause has given him at least a week's time to regain complete fitness without missing games.
Patidar sustained the injury while fielding during RCB's home game against CSK on May 3. Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma was poised to lead RCB against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday before the tournament was halted for a week.
"I was very grateful for the opportunity given to me," Jitesh said on RCB Bold Diaries. "They were giving me an opportunity to captain RCB and it's a very big thing for me and my family. I was thinking of what the right combination would be because both Devdutt [Padikkal] and Rajat were not available, and it was a big responsibility to replace them.
RCB have been dealing with injury issues this season. Opening batter Phil Salt was down with illness and was replaced in the XI by Jacob Bethell. Devdutt Padikkal was ruled out of the season with a hamstring injury and replaced in the squad by Mayank Agarwal.
Despite the setbacks, RCB were holding second spot on the points table when the IPL was interrupted, with eight wins and three defeats from 11 outings.
