Josh Hazlewood was named Player of the Match on Wednesday, April 15, after Royal Challengers Bengaluru limited Lucknow Super Giants to 146 and then reached the target comfortably at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Australian finished with one wicket, while the rest of the attack shared the spoils around him.
A balanced bowling effort
Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned 3 for 27 and Rasikh Salam produced 4 for 24, with Krunal Pandya adding 2 for 38. Together they kept the visitors well short of a competitive total.
Afterwards Hazlewood said the team had found home games difficult in the first half of last season, so winning the toss and bowling first suited them this time. He described the surface as slower than usual and a little up and down, and said he was pleased with how the chase was handled. He also credited the batters for their composure, calling it a sign of growing belief in the dressing room.
Why he does not chase variety
Asked about his method, Hazlewood compared himself with Jasprit Bumrah and others who can lean on slower-ball variations. He said he does not have that kind of skill set and instead relies on hitting the right areas. In his view the job is about execution rather than trying too much, and he keeps making small adjustments to stay accurate.
RCB on top of the table
The result lifted RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 points table with eight points from five matches. Their only defeat so far came against Rajasthan Royals. Their next assignment is a home fixture against Delhi Capitals on April 18, where they will look to extend the winning run.
