Why is Josh Hazlewood not playing today in RCB vs SRH Match 1 IPL 2026?

IPL 2026 finally starts with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs SunRisers Hyderabad (RCB vs SRH) match, which M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) is hosting on Saturday night (March 28). In their season opener, Australian star Josh Hazlewood isn't playing for RCB. 

The ongoing season is very hard for the Australian right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood. First, he completely missed the Ashes 2025-26 due to a hamstring injury. Later, he missed the entire ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 due to a calf injury, which he sustained during the pre-tournament warm-up.

Hazlewood just recently landed in India to confirm that he is eyeing the IPL 2026, where RCB are defending the title. However, the right-arm pacer is currently in the recovery process, as the team management isn't rushing for him yet. Not only the tournament opener, but he can miss a few more early-season games before starting his IPL 2026 journey.  

RCB playing XI for IPL 2026 opener

RCB captain Rajat Patidar, the IPL 2025 winning skipper, chose to bowl first after winning the IPL 2026 opening game against SRH at home. At toss, RCB skipper confirmed Jacob Duffy and Abhinandan Singh as the new faces in the playing XI. 

RCB playing XI vs SRH 

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (Captain), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, Suyash Sharma.

RCB Impact subs: Devdutt Padikkal, Jacob Bethell, Rasikh Salam Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Venkatesh Iyer

See Also: IPL 2026, Match 1 - RCB vs SRH: Toss Update and Playing XI

Josh Hazlewood is key for RCB in IPL 2026

RCB won their first title in the IPL 2025, and Josh Hazlewood was their star in that season. The right-arm pacer was the joint third leading wicket-taker in that season, with 22 wickets in 12 games, with a strike rate of 12.00. He was the leading wicket-taker for his team in that season. 

Hazlewood is once again an important name for RCB in the IPL 2026. Like their previous season, the RCB bowling line-up, especially the pace-bowling line-up, doesn't have much experience, excluding Bhuvneshwar Kumar.  

It is sure that RCB will utilise New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy, while Hazlewood is recovering from his fitness issues. However, the Aussie pacer has to take on another responsibility once he returns to the playing squad. It will be harder for Hazlewood to make an impact in the new IPL season, as the Aussie pacer hasn't experienced a match time since last November.