Is Josh Hazlewood Playing RR vs RCB Tomorrow? Latest Update

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood is finally going to make it to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad is the question on every fan's mind. The Aussie bowling superstar Hazlewood is sparking rumours around his immediate participation, after recovering from hamstring injuries that kept him out of the first two matches.

The defending champions of the Indian Premier League 2026, RCB, had a solid start to this season by winning both the first two matches with a superior NRR. Their batting has been destructive, and so has their bowling unit, which is making a wonderful impact in power play as well as in the death overs.

The bowling unit has already given an impressive performance, yet the return of Josh Hazlewood IPL 2026 will undoubtedly make Bengaluru the most dangerous team of IPL this season.

Will Josh Hazlewood Play RCB vs RR Match IPL 2026?

The fitness of Josh Hazlewood for the upcoming match against Rajasthan is still not 100% sure, as both the RCB management and Cricket Australia remain cautious about risking any long-term damage. It is still not confirmed that fans will see Josh Hazlewood play against RR. Despite this uncertainty, his track record speaks for itself.

Across his IPL career, Hazlewood has acquired 57 wickets with an average of 20.98, although he unleashed his best performance after coming into the RCB from CSK. In the 2025 season, Josh was the backbone of their maiden title win, scalping 22 wickets in just 12 matches.

His ability to keep the scoreboard under control, even in a bowler's nightmare, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where hitting boundaries is easier than taking a single for batters. Whether Josh Hazlewood plays against RR or sits out one more game as a precaution, there is no doubt that Hazlewood remains the "X-factor" RCB needs to defend their trophy successfully.

The Selection Dilemma: Hazlewood vs. Jacob Duffy

When discussing Josh Hazlewood playing IPL 2026, there is a major selection tragedy. As, Jacob Duffy has filled Josh's shoes perfectly, even picking up a 3-wicket haul on debut. Duffy has provided the control and wickets RCB needed during the power play, making it difficult for the management to bench him.
While the Josh Hazlewood IPL 2026 campaign is highly anticipated, the team must decide if they want to go back to Hazlewood when he gets fit, or sideline Duffy's red-hot form for the experience of a star bowler.