RCB gets a big shock, the team’s star player may be out

IPL 2026: Before the start of IPL 2026 season, Royal Challengers Bangalore has suffered a big setback. According to reports, RCB’s star fast bowler Josh Hazlewood may be out of the initial matches of IPL 2026. Josh Josh Hazlewood is struggling with injury. In such a situation, RCB’s problems seem to be increasing before the start of the season.

Josh Hazlewood is struggling with injury

Josh Hazlewood has been struggling with injury since last year. Josh Hazlewood was injured while playing for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield in November 2025. There was an injury in his right hamstring. Because of this, he was out of the entire Ashes series of 5 test matches against England. After this, he was also ruled out of T20 World Cup 2024 due to Achilles tendon problem. Now reports are coming out that Josh Hazlewood may be out of the initial matches of IPL 2026 also.

Josh Hazlewood is an important bowler of Royal Challengers Bangalore. In such a situation, his exit is a big blow for Royal Challengers Bangalore. If Hazlewood is out, then the responsibility of the fast bowling department will be on Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Now it remains to be seen when Josh Hazlewood returns fully fit in IPL 2026. The team will eagerly wait for his return.

🚨 Josh Hazlewood is likely to miss RCB’s first two matches#CricketTwitter#IPL2026pic.twitter.com/L1CafkRhri

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 17, 2026

The first match will be played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

IPL 2026 will start from March 28. Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad will clash in the first match of the 19th season. RCB team had won the title last year. In such a situation, being the defending champion, RCB will play the opening match as per IPL rules. The opening match between the two teams will be played at Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru.

royal challengers bengaluru ipl 2026 schedule

After this, Royal Challengers Bangalore will play their second match in IPL 2026 against Chennai Super Kings on March 5. This match of RCB vs CSK will also be played in Chinnaswamy Stadium only. After this, on April 10, Royal Challengers Bangalore will face Rajasthan Royals in the third match. This match between the two teams will be played in Guwahati, the second home ground of Rajasthan Royals. Whereas RCB will play its fourth match against Mumbai Indians. This match will be played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Let us tell you that the schedule of the first phase of IPL 2026 has just been announced, in which a total of 20 matches will be played. All teams will play approximately 4-4 matches.

Royal Challengers Bangalore squad for IPL 2026:

Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethel, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasik Salaam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Mangesh Yadav, Jacob Duffy, Satwik Deswal, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Kanishk Chauhan, Vihaan Malhotra.

Also read: Australian government refuses to let its players go to this city of Pakistan, PSL 2026 season in danger