Josh Hazlewood ditches RCB, unlikely to return for IPL 2025

There are growing doubts over whether Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Josh Hazlewood will return for the remainder of IPL 2025 as the BCCI plans to resume the tournament next week after a one-week suspension due to the India-Pakistan conflict.

Josh Hazlewood missed RCB’s last home game against Chennai Super Kings on May 3 due to a shoulder issue, and he was already uncertain for their next IPL 2025 clash against Lucknow Super Giants on May 9 before the tournament was suspended.

Josh Hazlewood unlikely to return for RCB as IPL 2025 set to resume

Even if the IPL 2025 had continued without interruption, the Australian speedster Josh Hazlewood was likely to miss the rest of the season. Josh Hazlewood had previously said that he was managing his fitness during the tournament, following a recent recovery from both a calf injury and a side strain.

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These injuries had kept the fast bowler out of several key international events earlier this year, including parts of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against India in December-January, the Test series against Sri Lanka, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February-March.

CA is not concerned about Josh Hazlewood's fitness

Despite the latest setback, an ESPNcricinfo report revealed that Cricket Australia (CA) isn’t too worried about Hazlewood. The fast bowler is still expected to be named in Australia’s Test squad, which will have a preparation camp in England in early June before the ICC World Test Championship final.

As the IPL 2025 is set to restart, the big headache for the BCCI is the availability of the Australia and South Africa players. Top Australian players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head are yet to decide whether they will return to India for the remainder of the season.

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With the ICC World Test Championship final starting on June 11 at Lord’s, the Australian players may opt to rest and prepare for the big clash. Cummins and Head play for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are almost out of the IPL 2025 playoff race and have only three league games left.

Uncertainty over Australia-South Africa players' availability for IPL 2025

So, Cummins and Head’s return looks unlikely. However, things would be complicated for Mitchell Starc, as the Delhi Capitals are still in the running for the playoffs. Starc also faced a tiring journey from Dharamsala to Delhi by road and train after a match was stopped midway on May 8 due to security reasons, which could also affect his decision.

Most New Zealand players have already returned home, but Mitchell Santner and Bevon Jacobs, who play for the Mumbai Indians, have stayed back. According to New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief Heath Mills, Santner and Jacobs stayed after the team asked them to.

On the other hand, Cricket South Africa will decide on Sunday (May 11) whether its players can stay for the rest of IPL 2025. Their current NOCs are valid only till May 25, and CSA has said player safety will be the top priority. With a warm-up game against Zimbabwe coming up in early June ahead of the WTC final, it remains to be seen whether they allow players to extend their stay.