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As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) weighs the resumption of IPL 2025 following a temporary suspension due to the India-Pakistan border conflict, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) find themselves in a precarious position. Two of their key players –Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood and captain Rajat Patidar – are facing significant injury concerns, casting doubt over their participation in the remainder of the season.
Josh Hazlewood’s IPL 2025 journey stalled by injury and national duty
Hazlewood, RCB’s strike bowler and a leading contender for the Purple Cap with 18 wickets in 10 matches, has been instrumental in the team’s strong run this season. However, a shoulder niggle forced him out of the crucial home clash against Chennai Super Kings on May 3, and he was already a doubtful starter for the subsequent fixture before the IPL was suspended.
With the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final looming in June, Cricket Australia is expected to prioritize Hazlewood’s fitness for national duties. The Australian board has scheduled a pre-WTC conditioning camp in England in early June, and Hazlewood’s inclusion in the Test squad is considered a certainty. Given this context, a return to the IPL appears increasingly unlikely, as both the player and his national board are keen to avoid any risk of aggravating his injury ahead of a major international final.
This situation is not unique to Hazlewood; other Australian stars such as Pat Cummins and Travis Head are also expected to skip the IPL’s concluding stages to focus on the WTC final. For RCB, Hazlewood’s absence would be a major blow, especially as the team sits in a strong playoff position and has relied heavily on his wicket-taking prowess.
Uncertainty lingers on Rajat Patidar’s recovery amidst upcoming IPL matches
Meanwhile, RCB skipper Patidar is in the midst of recovering from a finger injury sustained while fielding during the May 3 match against CSK. Medical advice required him to wear a splint and refrain from training for at least 10 days, which would have ruled him out for a couple of matches had the IPL not been paused. The week-long suspension has inadvertently provided Patidar with valuable recovery time, raising hopes that he could return without missing additional games if the tournament resumes as planned.
RCB management remains cautious, prioritizing Patidar’s full fitness not only for the IPL playoffs but also considering his potential selection for the India A tour of England later this year. While Patidar is reportedly optimistic about playing the remainder of the season, his availability will depend on his progress in the coming days and the medical team’s final assessment.
In Patidar’s absence, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma is set to lead the side, highlighting the depth of RCB’s injury woes this season, with other key players like Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt also missing matches due to injuries and illness.
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