Royal Challengers Bangalore fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is set to miss the initial stages of the IPL 2023 while RCB’s star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell remains doubtful for RCB’s opening game against Mumbai Indians on April 2 in Bengaluru.
RCB to Miss Maxwell And Hazlewood
According to a report in cricket.com.au, Hazlewood is, however, hopeful of playing a part in the later stages of the T20 tournament. The 32-year-old is currently recovering from an Achilles problem which kept him out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India.
While Hazlewood is keen to return to action through the IPL, he has stated Test cricket remains his No.1 priority.
“As fun as T20 is and as lucrative as it is, I find it still plays second fiddle to Test cricket,” Hazlewood said in February while in Bengaluru.
“This series, Ashes series, home summers are what you play cricket for. I don’t think that will ever change.
“I’ve chatted with guys at Cricket Australia, Cricket NSW … to get a plan together (to manage his body). It’s probably about short-term loss versus long-term gain a lot of the time.
“You’ve got a T20 World Cup or an IPL or a one-day series, it’s about still ticking those boxes off the field to be ready to go for a Test series.
“It might hurt that particular series, or you might not be 100 per cent but in the long term you might be better placed for an Ashes or a home Test summer. It’s just about summing up what’s right and how much you can do.”
Glenn Maxwell, who missed Australia’s final two ODIs against India earlier this month, remains an uncertain starter for RCB’s opening game of the IPL as he continues to recuperate from a leg injury.
Maxwell, who broke his leg in a freak accident at a friend’s birthday party last November, found the return to ODI cricket “more demanding than he had expected”, according to national selector George Bailey
As per IPL Schedule 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore will play the first match against Mumbai Indians on April 2 in Bengaluru.
