IPL 2022: "RCB Require Such A Bowler" - Mohammad Kaif Lauds Josh Hazlewood's Match-Winning Spell In IPL 2022 Match Vs LSG

Mohammad Kaif figures Josh Hazlewood’s addition could go far in aiding the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bring home their first IPL championship.

Hazlewood returned figures of 4/25 in last evening’s IPL 2022 contest against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). His spell assisted RCB with limiting KL Rahul’s side to a score of 163/8 to win the game by 18 runs.

You Will Spend Money To Watch A Spell-Like That: Mohammad Kaif On Josh Hazlewood’s New Ball Spell

While evaluating the match during a conversation on Star Sports, Kaif featured the significance of bowlers like Josh Hazlewood to RCB’s title desires. He said:

“RCB require such a bowler, they have the batting. We have seen for years, they had Chris Gayle and AB de Villers, they have Virat Kohli but if they get the bowlers, then the path they have embarked on to win the IPL, it is possible.”

The former India player had the following to say about Hazlewood’s new-ball spell and his dismissals of Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis:

“You get dismissals like this (De Kock’s) in Test matches, line and length with the bounce and he got out in the slips. He has got the intelligence now, he used the yorker to dismiss Stoinis, it was also a very big wicket because Stonis is a very good batter, he can finish the game. The first spell he bowled with the new ball, you will spend money to watch a spell like that.”

Josh Hazlewood got De Kock to edge one to Glenn Maxwell at first slip to give RCB an early success. His dismissal of Stoinis ended up being the last sign of LSG’s eventual demise.

Irfan Pathan Compares Josh Hazlewood To Glenn McGrath

Irfan Pathan indicated that Hazlewood’s bowling was as instrumental in RCB’s success as Faf du Plessis’ knock. He elaborated:

“If someone won them the match after Faf du Plessis’ knock, it was Hazlewood. He used the new ball very well, the way he dismissed Manish Pandey, the usage of lengths and the slower ones, the control on line and bluff, we saw everything in his bowling.”

The former India all-rounder concluded by observing that Josh Hazlewood’s bowling style rekindled memories of Glenn McGrath. Pathan explained:

“He always reminds us about Glenn McGrath, I say it repeatedly that he is that style of bowler. He is tall and uses his height. He is not a 145 kph bowler, he bowls around 135-138 but along with that the control and extra bounce. The slower ball he has started using with which he dismissed Ayush Badoni, I think all-in-all a perfect day.”

Hazlewood got De Kock and Manish Pandey in his first spell to give RCB the high ground. He then got back to dispose of Ayush Badoni and Stoinis to everything except end LSG’s expectations of success.

Also Read: IPL 2022: KL Rahul Fined For Code Of Conduct Breach, Marcus Stoinis Reprimanded