Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, a key bowler for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has suffered another injury setback during the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India. This raises significant concerns for RCB as they gear up for IPL 2025. Let’s analyze how RCB’s playing XI might shape up in Hazlewood’s potential absence.

Hazlewood’s Injury Troubles and Impact on RCB

Josh Hazlewood, purchased for a hefty INR 12.5 Crores, was expected to spearhead RCB’s new-ball attack in IPL 2025. However, recurring injuries have plagued his recent outings. After missing the Adelaide Test due to a side strain, Hazlewood’s breakdown during the BGT series casts doubt on his availability for the early stages of the IPL season.

Hazlewood’s absence would mean a significant gap in RCB’s bowling attack, forcing the team management to explore alternatives.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal: The Powerplay Duo

Without Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will step up to lead RCB’s powerplay bowling. Known for his swing and accuracy, Bhuvneshwar has claimed 72 powerplay wickets in the IPL, maintaining an economy rate of 6.39. His experience will be crucial in restricting runs during the fielding restrictions.

To partner Bhuvneshwar, RCB might rely on Yash Dayal. The young left-arm pacer, retained for INR 5 Crores after an impressive IPL 2024, offers variety with his ability to swing the ball and trouble batters with his angle. Dayal’s inclusion provides a balance of youth and experience to RCB’s powerplay attack.

Lungi Ngidi or Romario Shepherd: The Third Seamer Dilemma

If RCB trusts Yash Dayal to deliver two powerplay overs, the focus shifts to selecting a reliable third seamer. Lungi Ngidi and Romario Shepherd are two strong contenders:

• Lungi Ngidi brings raw pace, bounce, and the ability to deliver deceptive variations. His hit-the-deck bowling style could prove effective on slower tracks.
• Romario Shepherd offers dual benefits. Apart from bowling handy medium pace overs, Shepherd strengthens the lower-order batting with his hard-hitting abilities.

Given M. Chinnaswamy Stadium’s reputation for high-scoring matches, Shepherd might edge out Ngidi if RCB prioritizes batting depth over a pure bowling option.

Spin Department: Krunal Pandya and Liam Livingstone to Shine

RCB’s spin attack appears well-rounded with the presence of all-rounders Krunal Pandya and Liam Livingstone.

• Krunal Pandya provides control in the middle overs with his left-arm spin while contributing with the bat.
• Liam Livingstone, with his ability to bowl both off-spin and leg-spin, adds flexibility to the team’s bowling strategy.

Additionally, RCB can rotate between Swapnil Singh and Suyash Sharma, depending on pitch conditions, to bolster their spin department.

RCB’s Probable Playing XI Without Josh Hazlewood

Here’s a potential playing XI for RCB if Josh Hazlewood remains unavailable:

1. Faf du Plessis (C)
2. Virat Kohli
3. Glenn Maxwell
4. Rajat Patidar
5. Liam Livingstone
6. Dinesh Karthik (WK)
7. Krunal Pandya
8. Romario Shepherd / Lungi Ngidi
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10. Yash Dayal
11. Suyash Sharma / Swapnil Singh

This combination ensures a strong batting lineup with multiple all-round options and a competitive bowling attack.

Key Takeaways for RCB

Josh Hazlewood’s injury woes continue to create uncertainty for RCB. However, the presence of experienced players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, promising talents like Yash Dayal, and all-rounders like Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd provide RCB with ample backup options.

While Hazlewood remains irreplaceable in terms of skill and experience, RCB can still assemble a competitive squad to adapt to his absence and aim for IPL glory in 2025.(online casino games)