Not as versatile as Bumrah, but as effective: Behind Josh Hazlewood’s IPL success

RCB’s spearhead Josh Hazlewood offered a candid insight into how he has carved out a reputation as one of the most effective fast bowlers in the Indian Premier League, even without the wide range of variations that define Jasprit Bumrah’s craft.

Hazlewood may have picked up just one wicket on the night, but his influence with the new ball in the power play proved decisive in bundling Lucknow Super Giants out for a subpar 146. At 35, he remains among the most dependable quicks in the league, and since joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2022, he has evolved into a talismanic presence alongside Virat Kohli.

RCB vs LSG: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD

In two full seasons with the franchise, Hazlewood crossed the 20-wicket mark each time, claiming 20 in 2022 and 22 in the title-winning 2024 campaign. Across four seasons, he has taken 45 wickets in just 27 matches. For context, Bumrah has only eight more wickets in that period despite playing 12 additional games. Hazlewood’s strike rate of 18.64 is superior to Bumrah’s and stands out among fast bowlers with over 40 wickets in this phase, while his economy rate of 8.43 is the third-best, behind Bumrah and Trent Boult.

Yet, unlike Bumrah, Hazlewood does not rely heavily on variations. Instead, his method is built on relentless accuracy, repeatable lengths and a clear understanding of his role within the attack.

“I do bowl the off-cutter sometimes. I don’t quite have the range of slower balls like someone like Bumrah, so you try to make up for it in other ways. I’m always working on different things in training and bringing them out when needed, but today it was more about accuracy – hitting the right length, using a few cross-seam deliveries, and keeping things simple. We’ve been playing on a lot of flat wickets, so the slower balls and yorkers will come into play more there,” Hazlewood told Faf du Plessis while speaking on JioHotstar after RCB’s win.

That clarity of method was evident during his Power Play spell, where he returned figures of 3-0-10-1 and helped restrict LSG to 35 for one in the first six overs. His control over length and line meant the batters were rarely able to break free, with scoring opportunities drying up against disciplined bowling.

With Josh Hazlewood back in the side and bowling three of the first seven overs, RCB gained an early stranglehold on the game. On a surface that was dry and holding up, he made life extremely difficult for the batters by not allowing them any room to free their arms. When Rishabh Pant tried to force the pace, he was struck on the left elbow and had to retire hurt. When Nicholas Pooran looked to take him on, he dragged the ball back onto his stumps.

RCB’s quicks went at just over seven an over in the first 10, but when they stuck to a tight off-stump line, the scoring rate dropped to just over three in the same period. Hazlewood was so in control that RCB even brought in a slip and a short leg at one stage, a rare sight in T20 cricket.

For Hazlewood, while conditions can influence tactics, the core principle remains unchanged: execution over experimentation.

“It helps when the wicket is like that. You don’t have to try too much. The plan is very simple – it’s just about execution and hitting the right areas. Bhuvi summed it up in that first over. There were a few field changes here and there, but the communication within the bowling group, especially from Bhuvi with the new ball, is a real strength of ours. That’s probably why we did so well in away games last year across different surfaces – the communication is clear and quick,” he added.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru remain at home, where they will face Delhi Capitals in an afternoon fixture on Saturday, April 18. Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, travel to New Chandigarh to take on the in-form Punjab Kings in their own backyard the following day, April 19.

RCB will also heave a sigh of relief after seeing Josh Hazlewood at his best after a lacklustre outing against Rajasthan Royals a few days ago.

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