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RCB to Rest Hazlewood? Star Pacer's Availability Questioned
22 May
Summary
- Abhinav Mukund predicts Josh Hazlewood may be rested by RCB.
- RCB is likely to secure a top-two finish in IPL 2026.
- Devdutt Padikkal is suggested as a potential opening partner.
Former India batter Abhinav Mukund has predicted that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) might rest their prominent pacer Josh Hazlewood for the IPL 2026 encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). This potential resting comes as RCB is on the verge of securing a top-two position in the league standings.
The match, scheduled for Friday, May 22, 2026, is crucial for both teams. RCB currently leads the points table, while SRH is in third place. Mukund indicated that if RCB confirms their top-two finish, they might choose to rest some key bowlers, including Hazlewood, to manage workload, especially considering upcoming travel.
In batting discussions, former opener Wasim Jaffer suggested a change in RCB's opening pair. He proposed that Devdutt Padikkal should open alongside Venkatesh Iyer, who recently earned a Man of the Match award. This suggestion arises as Jacob Bethell has shown underwhelming performance in recent innings.
