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#IPL #Hazlewood #confident #body #Jitesh #Sharma">IPL 2026: ‘Hazlewood is very confident about his body now,’ says Jitesh Sharma The return of Josh Hazlewood and the rise of Rasikh Dar have given Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling unit real depth and helped the defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champion move top of the standings with a win over Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday.
Bengaluru defeated Lucknow by five wickets to draw level on eight points with Rajasthan Royals, edging ahead on net run-rate.
While veteran batter Virat Kohli remains the headline act and is the leading IPL run-scorer this season with 228 runs, it is the depth of the bowling unit that has underpinned Bengaluru’s early consistency.
Australia quick Hazlewood struggled with hamstring and Achilles injuries last year and missed the T20 World Cup, but after being eased back slowly into Bengaluru’s campaign, he is starting to look sharper, vice-captain Jitesh Sharma said.
“He’s got rest, so he becomes quicker, fitter. He’s very confident about his body now,” he told reporters.
“He has worked really hard on his injury and he’s like a more improved player than last year.”
Hazlewood’s comeback has coincided with the emergence of uncapped pacer Dar, who was signed for 60 million Indian rupees ($643,245) ahead of the 2025 season as a long-term investment.
Dar featured only twice during last year’s title run, with Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal the established pace options.
Against Lucknow, Dar rewarded that patience, combining with Hazlewood on a dry surface to deny Lucknow any early momentum and returning figures of four for 24.
Hazlewood complemented the effort with a miserly one for 20, while Krunal Pandya provided control through the middle overs.
“He (Dar) has worked a lot on yorkers and slower ones. He knew the IPL was around the corner and how one has to be perfect to play with a certain intensity,” said Jitesh.
“Errors will be there, so you practise so much that it becomes muscle memory. That’s what helps you perform under pressure.”
Bengaluru next hosts Delhi Capitals on Saturday.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
The return of Josh Hazlewood and the rise of Rasikh Dar have given Royal Challengers…
Sports news
#RCB #LSG #IPL #Moody #backs #Pooran #good #tough #start">RCB vs LSG, IPL 2026: Moody backs Pooran to come good despite tough start
Tom Moody, Lucknow Super Giants’ global director of cricket, expressed hope that star batter Nicholas Pooran will soon return to form. The West Indian has a highest score of 19 this IPL season.
“Nicky is fully aware of the slow start he’s had,” Moody said on Tuesday. “But we’ve got 100% confidence in what he brings to the table. Class is permanent and I’m sure that the opportunity tomorrow night (Wednesday), at a venue where top-order players can enjoy, could well be the tonic that he needs.”
There is also an expectation that 23-year-old pace sensation Mayank Yadav will play his first game this IPL.
The youngster, whose workload is being carefully managed because of his injury history, breathed fire the last time he was in Bengaluru (April 2024), topping speeds of 150 kmph and taking three for 14 in LSG’s 28-run victory.
The three batters he dismissed in a Player-of-the-Match performance were Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green.
“He’s ready to go,” Moody stated. “He didn’t jump into our thought processes early in the tournament purely because he was still a little bit underdone. His fitness was good, but just in terms of bowling and the loads that any bowler needs to feel comfortable at the crease.
“But we feel it has come to a point where he’s ready to go. He’s worked exceptionally hard, and he presents a headache for us with regards to selection,” the Aussie added.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
Tom Moody, Lucknow Super Giants’ global director of cricket, expressed hope that star batter Nicholas Pooran will soon return to form. The West Indian has a highest score of 19 this IPL season.
“Nicky is fully aware of the slow start he’s had,” Moody said on Tuesday. “But we’ve got 100% confidence in what he brings to the table. Class is permanent and I’m sure that the opportunity tomorrow night (Wednesday), at a venue where top-order players can enjoy, could well be the tonic that he needs.”
There is also an expectation that 23-year-old pace sensation Mayank Yadav will play his first game this IPL.
The youngster, whose workload is being carefully managed because of his injury history, breathed fire the last time he was in Bengaluru (April 2024), topping speeds of 150 kmph and taking three for 14 in LSG’s 28-run victory.
The three batters he dismissed in a Player-of-the-Match performance were Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green.
“He’s ready to go,” Moody stated. “He didn’t jump into our thought processes early in the tournament purely because he was still a little bit underdone. His fitness was good, but just in terms of bowling and the loads that any bowler needs to feel comfortable at the crease.
“But we feel it has come to a point where he’s ready to go. He’s worked exceptionally hard, and he presents a headache for us with regards to selection,” the Aussie added.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
Tom Moody, Lucknow Super Giants’ global director of cricket, expressed hope that star batter Nicholas…
Sports news
#RCB #LSG #IPL #Inform #Royal #Challengers #Bengaluru #extend #winning #run #Lucknow #Super #Giants">RCB vs LSG, IPL 2026: In-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru looks to extend winning run against Lucknow Super Giants
In-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to make the most of its return to home environs when it takes on Lucknow Super Giants at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
The clash will be the first of three consecutive games in the Garden City over the next 10 days, and having already won its two fixtures here, RCB would want to continue in the same vein and maximise its opportunities.
Rajat Patidar & Co. will also have the added motivation of dishing out fine performances, for the defending champion’s Bengaluru leg in the league stage will end with these three matches.
Sunday’s 18-run win away at Mumbai Indians should augur well. The batting came good again, as RCB posted 240 – its fourth 200 plus total in as many matches.
Krunal Pandya then bowled four miserly overs for 26 runs and a wicket to keep a capable MI batting line-up under check.
The only concerns from that contest were Virat Kohli’s troublesome ankle and pacer Rasikh Salam pulling up thrice in a single over. But those fears were allayed during practice on Tuesday when Kohli batted and Rasikh bowled.
LSG has triumphed during its previous two visits here, but to even compete this time, its batting should fire. Rishabh Pant’s outfit has taken first strike twice this campaign, but made scores of just 141 and 164, and lost both matches.
Nicholas Pooran has had an underwhelming season, totalling just 41 runs. If he can summon the spirit which helped him score a mesmerising 19-ball 62 in LSG’s one-wicket win at the Chinnaswamy in 2023, it will be timely.
The LSG bowling has largely held up well, with veteran Mohammed Shami still in fine fettle. But it will face its toughest test yet against RCB’s marauding willow wielders at one of the best venues for batting.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
In-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to make the most of its return to home environs when it takes on Lucknow Super Giants at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
The clash will be the first of three consecutive games in the Garden City over the next 10 days, and having already won its two fixtures here, RCB would want to continue in the same vein and maximise its opportunities.
Rajat Patidar & Co. will also have the added motivation of dishing out fine performances, for the defending champion’s Bengaluru leg in the league stage will end with these three matches.
Sunday’s 18-run win away at Mumbai Indians should augur well. The batting came good again, as RCB posted 240 – its fourth 200 plus total in as many matches.
Krunal Pandya then bowled four miserly overs for 26 runs and a wicket to keep a capable MI batting line-up under check.
The only concerns from that contest were Virat Kohli’s troublesome ankle and pacer Rasikh Salam pulling up thrice in a single over. But those fears were allayed during practice on Tuesday when Kohli batted and Rasikh bowled.
LSG has triumphed during its previous two visits here, but to even compete this time, its batting should fire. Rishabh Pant’s outfit has taken first strike twice this campaign, but made scores of just 141 and 164, and lost both matches.
Nicholas Pooran has had an underwhelming season, totalling just 41 runs. If he can summon the spirit which helped him score a mesmerising 19-ball 62 in LSG’s one-wicket win at the Chinnaswamy in 2023, it will be timely.
The LSG bowling has largely held up well, with veteran Mohammed Shami still in fine fettle. But it will face its toughest test yet against RCB’s marauding willow wielders at one of the best venues for batting.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
In-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to make the most of its return to…