Royal Challengers Bengaluru have received a major boost with Josh Hazlewood officially returning to the playing XI for their clash against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. However, persistent rain has emerged as the only hurdle, casting uncertainty over when play will begin.
The toss itself was delayed by 15 minutes due to showers. Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to bowl first, citing moisture in the surface after consistent rain over the past few days. But just as the toss concluded, rain returned, forcing players off the field and raising concerns over further delays.
RR vs RCB, IPL 2026: Live Updates | Scorecard
Hazlewood’s inclusion is a significant development for RCB, especially considering his impact in their historic, maiden title-winning campaign last season. The Australian fast bowler was their standout performer, finishing as the team’s leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets in just 12 matches at a stunning average of 8.77. His ability to strike early and control the flow of runs made him a key figure in RCB’s success.
The experienced pacer has been out of action in recent months due to injury. His last competitive appearance came in November 2025 for New South Wales. Since then, he has missed high-profile assignments, including the Ashes series and the T20 World Cup 2026, making his return even more eagerly anticipated.
In Hazlewood’s absence, New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy stepped up impressively in the first two games of the season. He claimed five wickets and also played a crucial role in RCB’s win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. Duffy removed the dangerous opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma and followed it up with the wicket of Nitish Kumar Reddy, setting the tone early in the innings. Despite his strong performances, RCB have opted to bring back Hazlewood, underlining the value of his experience and proven track record.
With the pitch expected to retain some moisture due to the rain, conditions could favour seam bowling early on. That makes Hazlewood’s return even more crucial, as RCB look to exploit any assistance on offer if the match gets underway.
What the captains said
Riyan Parag explained that the decision to bowl first was influenced by the conditions. “It was supposed to be a dry wicket, but it has been raining for the last couple of days and rained a bit today as well, so there’s going to be a little moisture,” he said. While expecting some help for bowlers early on, he added, “It seems like a really good wicket.”
He also spoke about the team’s mindset going into the game. “We want to be a really pure team that plays really strategic cricket, really smart cricket,” Parag said. Emphasising the importance of staying focused on the present, he added, “As soon as the sun came up, it was past. All the three games, that’s in the past. Today we’ve got to perform.” He confirmed one change to the side, noting that “Tushar is taking a rest and Brijesh comes in.”
Rajat Patidar acknowledged the strong RCB support in the stands, saying, “You are making us feel that it’s already our home ground, so we all love you.”
On the team combination, he confirmed Hazlewood’s inclusion. “Josh in the place of Duffy,” he said, while also praising the New Zealand seamer: “Duffy also bowled brilliantly in the last game.” Highlighting Hazlewood’s importance, Patidar added, “Everyone knows Josh is an experienced player, a specialist, and his presence will definitely put us in a good frame of mind.”
RR vs RCB Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel(WK), Riyan Parag(C), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma
RR Impact Subs: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande
Royal Challengers Bengaluru XI: Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(C), Jitesh Sharma(WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Josh Hazlewood
RCB Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Rasikh Salam Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Venkatesh Iyer
