3 days ago
Why RCB bowling unit is the hidden heroes despite having only 1 bowler in Top 10 IPL 2025 wicket takers list
Josh Hazlewood isn't the top wicket-taker in IPL; that's Noor Ahmed. But the Australian has stepped up in the last two games, and the reward is more than being in striking distance of the Purle Cap (Hazlewood on 21, Noor on 24) but needing 4 wickets in the final.
But while that purple cap race heats up (Prasidh on 23, Boult on 19, Arshdeep 18, Bumrah, Sai Kishore on 17 who all could get a game extra), the Aussie is revelling in how the RCB bowling unit is getting the job done, especially putting in a perfect performance in the playoff against Punjab, and its much vaunted batting order.
'I guess, throughout the innings, which we saw tonight. So, we're in a pretty good place, I think, as a bowling unit,' Hazlewood said after sealing the final spot, after puncturing Punjab with his top spell. 'I think I probably just picked up on the momentum from the last game, I think a little bit,' he said in the post-match interaction.
Hazlewood also lauded the quietly brilliant RCB bowling pack and how efficiently they have operated. They aren't in Top 10, Krunal and Bhuvi are at No 14 and 15 in table with 15 wickets apiece. But they are chipping away nicely. Quietly even. And Hazlewood says it's because they are versatile in their roles, and can switch duties seamlessly.
'I think any one of the five or six bowlers can bowl in any moment of the game, whether it be the start, middle or end,' he said, adding the Indian veteran was the silent assassin. 'I think it obviously helps having Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) with so much experience, quite a calm customer. So that sort of rubs off on the rest of the attack,' he said.
'But I think when it comes down to making decisions, you know, bowling changes, what delivery we're trying to bowl, we're very relaxed and calm,' he said of a composed unit, unaffected by batters with carnage on their mind.
RCB in fact has been particularly effective against the highly rated explosive batting lineups – neutering both SRH and PBKS.
'I think as a unit we've worked really well. I think everyone knows their role, everyone is different. The combination is great, it's got some good variation, so everyone's got different strengths and it's just about using them at the right times, Hazlewood, who rocked Punjab with 3.1-0-21-3 said.
'It's just clear planning, obviously, first of all, and then clear execution and committing to that delivery you're trying to bowl. So just nice, clear mindsets. And yeah, we've been doing that nicely,' he added.
Mullanpur also rolled out a wicket with some juice for bowlers. 'There was a little bit in the wicket, to be honest, there was a little bit of seam movement, the bounce was probably a little bit inconsistent. So we sort of utilised that as best we could,' said Hazlewood, who is 15th on best economy.
One of the unlucky bowlers has been leg spinner Suyash Sharma, whose quality of spells does no justice to his wicket count. He has bowled 48 overs, has an unflattering average of 52.87 for 8 wickets, and is 29th on best economies and strike rate of 36. Suyash stepped up in the first Qualifier though.
'Suyash (leg-spinner) bowled really well in spells throughout the whole tournament, but has been a little bit unlucky on the wicket taking front, but obviously tonight got the rewards,' Hazlewood explained of the 8.81 economy bowler.
Hazlewood has Shreyas Iyer as bunny claiming him 4 times in T20 at average of 2.75, and he pointed out to the obvious vulnerability. 'Probably from a batting point from Kings XI, they probably just had to pull back a little bit and try and get a score on the board, you know, 150, 160 would have been a difficult chase potentially,' the Australian pace ace mulled, of what he was up against after returning Fri an injury layoff of the shoulder.
