The pacer Josh Hazlewood, who joined the RCB 2026 squad ahead of the season start, suffered an injury during RCB practice when Devdutt Padikkal’s shot hit him straight.

The physio attended to him, and the pacer got back on his feet. According to reports, Hazlewood is now fully fit and injury-free. He is available for CSK’s match on April 05.

But it remains to be seen whether RCB management will take the risk of playing him in the next match or give him more rest before bringing him back.

Hazlewood has been injury-prone throughout his career and has been out of action since November 2025. He missed the Ashes 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026, and there was no clarity regarding his availability for IPL 2026.

He was part of the RCB’s maiden title-winning campaign last year and finished as the franchise’s leading wicket taker, claiming 22 wickets across 12 matches.

Cricket Australia and RCB have been careful with Hazlewood’s recovery, and his availability for the rest of the IPL 2026 is yet to be known.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru has done well in the IPL 2026 first match without Josh Hazlewood. A stunning spell from Jacob Duffy set up the side’s victory at Bengaluru.

They will play their next game against the Chennai Super Kings on April 05 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Here are list of 3 players who could replace Josh Hazlewood in RCB if he misses the IPL 2026 season.

Jhye Richardson

The 29-year-old Jhye Richardson has made headlines during the IPL 2021, where he joined the Punjab Kings for a price of INR 14 crore. However, he was not utilised effectively and played in only three matches.

He joined the Delhi Capitals in 2024, but he appeared in just a single match for them as well. Jhye Richardson has improved since then and has played a pivotal role in the 2025-26 BBL, helping Perth Scorchers to win their sixth title.

Gerald Coetzee

South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has captured attention during the 2023 ODI World Cup campaign. With his pace and precision bowling, he proved himself as a lethal bowler on Indian pitches.

He secured his first IPL contract with the Mumbai Indians in 2024. In 2025, he joined the Gujarat Titans, where he picked a total of 15 wickets across 14 games. However, he failed to find a buyer in the IPL 2026 auction.

Ability to deliver 145 to 150 km/hr and adapt at swining the ball. He could prove to be an excellent choice for adding variety to RCB’s fast bowling attack.

Sean Abbott

Australian fast bowling all-rounder Sean Abbott could be an excellent option for RCB. He is a bowler who bowls with intensity on the pitch and, thanks to his sturdy physique, is capable of generating significant bounce and pace. Interestingly, he made his IPL debut for RCB in 2015 and also played for SRH.

He has significantly improved his bowling in recent years. He can bowl at powerplay and also proves to be a useful option during the death overs.