Australian fast bowlers bring a special quality to IPL franchises always. Josh Hazlewood stands among the finest pace bowlers currently playing. His accuracy and bounce trouble even the best batters. He recently helped his franchise win its first championship. This season brings fresh challenges and higher expectations for him.
Josh Hazlewood: Australia’s Pace Spearhead
Josh Hazlewood made his IPL debut in 2020. Since then, he’s become Australia’s go-to bowler in tight situations. He doesn’t bowl the fastest deliveries around. Instead, his accuracy and awkward bounce create problems constantly.
Australia trusted him during their 2021 T20 World Cup run. He delivered when it mattered most back then. The 2023 ODI World Cup saw similar performances from him. Big contests bring out his best cricket always.
His IPL numbers tell a clear story already. 39 matches have brought 57 wickets home. He averages 20.98 runs per wicket across those games. Not many overseas pacers maintain such brilliant numbers consistently.
His IPL Price Journey
The 2022 mega auction saw multiple franchises chasing him. Delhi, Lucknow, Chennai, and Mumbai all bid aggressively. RCB won that battle with ₹7.75 crore. That price seemed steep then but proved worthwhile later.
The 2025 auction brought him back to the same franchise. They paid ₹12.5 crore to secure his services again. This massive IPL price reflected his growing importance tremendously. For 2026, RCB retained him at that same amount.
The salary increase shows how much teams value him. Quality overseas pacers rarely become available in auctions. Hazlewood delivers consistently when his side needs him.
His IPL Team’s Success
Josh Hazlewood represents RCB in the IPL. His IPL team won their first championship in 2025. That victory ended years of heartbreak for their fans. He contributed 22 wickets during that memorable campaign.
Before 2025, he’d taken 35 wickets across 27 games. His best bowling figures read 4/25 in one match. Last season saw him grab 4/33 as his best figures. The franchise trusts him completely in crucial moments.
His economy rate sits at 8.28 across his career. That’s impressive considering T20 cricket’s aggressive nature nowadays. His IPL team knows he’ll bowl tight overs reliably.
Why He Remains Crucial
Josh Hazlewood brings experience and composure under pressure situations. Young bowlers learn plenty watching him operate daily. His presence strengthens any bowling attack significantly. Injuries have troubled him occasionally during IPL seasons though.
The franchise retained him despite fitness concerns sometimes surfacing. They believe his quality outweighs those occasional injury risks. Expect him to lead RCB’s pace attack throughout 2026.
