Is Josh Hazlewood available to play the RCB vs SRH IPL 2025 match?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are keenly awaiting the return of their ace seamer following the resumption of IPL 2025. Even before the suspension, RCB had to grapple with the absence of Josh Hazlewood, as the Australian suffered a shoulder injury. Now, while the season has resumed and four teams have locked in playoff spots, including RCB, Hazlewood is yet to return. The seamer is rehabilitating in Australia right now, and as the latest reports suggest, the seamer is not ready to return ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs. Unlike many Australians who are set to leave the season ahead of the playoffs, Hazlewood, contrastingly, would restart his stint at the final stage. Clearly, the Australian is not available to play the RCB vs SRH IPL 2025 match on Friday.

Josh Hazlewood set to miss the RCB vs SRH IPL 2025 match

While RCB have already qualified for the IPL 2025 playoffs, the team still has to play two matches in the group stage. The matches, the RCB vs SRH and the RCB vs LSG respectively, are crucial for RCB to aim for a Top 2 finish. Currently, RCB sit at the second spot on the points table, behind Gujarat Titans. However, PBKS and MI are in a comfortable position to challenge an ideal finish for RCB ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs. Meanwhile, as the season takes them closer to the final stage, Bengaluru, looking ahead to their maiden IPL title, would hope to complete a dress rehearsal with their fully-strengthened team. However, as it stands now, the fan-favorites would need to fit Hazlewood back into their combination directly during the playoffs.

As per recent reports, Josh Hazlewood is still recovering from his shoulder injury, continuing his rehabilitation in Brisbane, Australia. Mitchell Starc opted out of playing the remainder of IPL 2025 after his return to Australia due to the week-long suspension. Pat Cummins and Travis Head, meanwhile, would return in time for the WTC Final preparations, as SRH have been eliminated from the IPL 2025 campaign. However, with Hazlewood's return to IPL 2025 stalled, the seamer is ready to make himself available for the playoffs instead.

RCB is already dealing with the looming exits of Jacob Bethell and Lungi Ngidi. While the young English player is leaving for the Zimbabwe series, Ngidi has the WTC Final coming up against Australia, slated to start on June 11. In Hazlewood's absence, Ngidi played as the replacement for the pacer in the RCB Playing XI. Despite missing two matches so far, Hazlewood is still etched as the top wicket-taker for RCB in IPL 2025 so far, with 18 wickets in 10 matches.