Josh Hazlewood is no ordinary bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore this IPL season. Fans have dubbed him “HazleGod,” and after a series of impactful performances, it’s clear why.

Coming back from over a month out due to injury, many wondered if Hazlewood would lose his edge. He proved them wrong instantly. In a crunch match against Punjab Kings, he delivered a stunning performance with figures of 3 wickets for 21 runs, including the vital dismissals of Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis.

The Punjab captain seems to be his personal nemesis — Hazlewood has dismissed Iyer 4 times in just 22 balls faced in T20s. That’s dominance few bowlers achieve.

This season, Hazlewood has already taken 21 wickets in 11 games, marking his best IPL haul yet. But his value isn’t just about numbers.

In the 2022 IPL season, Hazlewood was a key player for RCB, taking 20 wickets as the team made their way to Qualifier 2. Injuries limited him to only three games in 2023, and he missed the entire 2024 season due to the birth of his child — a personal milestone he prioritized over cricket.

When 2025 rolled around, RCB made it clear how much they valued him by making him their most expensive buy at the auction — shelling out 12.5 crore to bring him back. And since his return, Hazlewood has lived up to every rupee spent.

Currently, he stands third on the Purple Cap list, but here’s the clincher — he has played three fewer matches than the two players above him. This means his wickets have come at a faster rate than most.

His bowling strike rate of 11.42 balls per wicket tops the charts among bowlers with at least 10 wickets this season — even surpassing Jasprit Bumrah.

Hazlewood has taken two or more wickets in seven matches, and on four occasions, he has taken three or more. This consistency and ability to strike repeatedly at crucial moments make him the ultimate clutch bowler.

RCB’s “HazleGod” isn’t just a nickname; it’s a testament to his match-winning impact, a testament to the game-changing force he has become for the team. As RCB chase IPL glory, Hazlewood stands tall as their secret weapon — reliable, relentless, and ruthless.

Also Read: 8 different match-winners, 7 away victories, 1 dream season: Why this is RCB's best team ever!

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