Josh Hazlewood Ruled Out of T20 World Cup 2026 & IPL Start

Few things frustrate a cricket fan more than watching your best bowler sit on the sidelines while a major tournament unfolds. That’s exactly the situation Australian supporters find themselves in with Josh Hazlewood, who has been ruled out of the 2026 T20 World Cup due to a recurring hamstring and Achilles injury. This article walks through what happened, how it affects his IPL season with Royal Challengers Bangalore, and how his career stats stack up against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah.

Age: 34 (born 8 January 1991) ·
Test wickets: 267 ·
ODI wickets: 144 ·
T20I wickets: 56 ·
Height: 6’4″ (193 cm) ·
IPL team: Royal Challengers Bangalore

Five key facts define Josh Hazlewood’s profile as one of Australia’s most reliable fast bowlers across formats.

The snapshot below captures his core career details.

What happened to Josh Hazlewood?

Injury details: hamstring and Achilles

The trouble started with a hamstring strain during a Sheffield Shield match before the Ashes, according to ESPNcricinfo. During rehabilitation, Hazlewood developed Achilles issues that delayed his return. CricTracker reported the setback was serious enough to halt his preparation for the T20 World Cup.

Impact on T20 World Cup 2026

Australia selector Tony Dodemaide told ESPNcricinfo that rushing Hazlewood back would pose too much risk. Initially, the team hoped he might return by the Super 8 stage, but medical advice later ruled that timeline too optimistic. Olympics.com confirmed Hazlewood had not played a competitive match since November 2025 when the tournament began.

Impact on IPL 2026

Hazlewood was expected to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2026 season. However, Times of India reported he would miss at least the first two matches, with a possible return around mid-April. RCB coach Andy Flower told India Today that Hazlewood was ready to return soon but not for the opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28.

The implication: Hazlewood’s absence from both the T20 World Cup and the opening IPL window creates a gap that neither Australia nor RCB can easily fill with a like-for-like replacement.

Why is Josh Hazlewood not playing the T20 World Cup 2026?

Official announcement from Cricket Australia

Olympics.com reported that Hazlewood was officially ruled out of Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad due to ongoing fitness issues. Australia did not immediately name a replacement; ESPNcricinfo confirmed selectors chose to wait before making a later decision.

Timeline of injury

• November 2025: Last competitive match played by Hazlewood
• Early 2026: Hamstring strain during Sheffield Shield
• Rehabilitation period: Achilles issues develop during rehab
• May 2026: Ruled out of T20 World Cup
• June 2026: Confirmed to miss IPL 2026 start

Replacement in squad

As of the latest reporting, Australia had not announced a direct replacement for Hazlewood in the T20 World Cup squad. Selector Tony Dodemaide emphasised the importance of not rushing the decision, given the need to find a bowler capable of filling Hazlewood’s role as a tall, accurate fast-medium option with yorker capability.

Australia chose long-term bowler management over short-term tournament gain, a calculation that makes sense for a 34-year-old fast bowler with a history of recurring issues.

Why is Josh Hazlewood not playing IPL 2026?

RCB update on Hazlewood’s absence

Royal Challengers Bangalore confirmed that Hazlewood would miss the start of the 2026 IPL season. Coach Andy Flower told India Today that the pacer was recovering well but not ready for the opening fixture. ESPNcricinfo added that Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were both likely to sit out the initial part of the season to manage their workloads.

Duration of unavailability

Times of India reported that Hazlewood was expected to miss at least two weeks of IPL action, possibly returning by mid-April. Times of India also noted the return date had not been finalized and depended on clearance from Cricket Australia’s medical staff.

Potential replacement for RCB

RCB has not officially announced a replacement for Hazlewood in the playing XI for the opening matches. Given he is an overseas fast bowler, the franchise may turn to a like-for-like replacement or reshuffle their bowling attack to cover his absence.

RCB invested in Hazlewood as a key death bowler at Chinnaswamy Stadium, a ground known for small boundaries where his yorker accuracy is most valuable.

Who is better, Bumrah or Hazlewood?

Three statistical categories, one clear pattern: Bumrah leads in wicket volume in T20Is, but Hazlewood has the superior economy rate across formats.

International career stats comparison

Both bowlers have been elite performers for their respective countries. Bumrah’s T20I average (17.95) is better than Hazlewood’s (22.3), but Hazlewood’s economy rate (7.6) is superior — he concedes fewer runs per over. In ODIs, Hazlewood (average 26.1) and Bumrah (average 25.4) are close.

T20I performance

Bumrah leads in T20I wickets with 77 compared to Hazlewood’s 56. However, Hazlewood’s economy rate of 7.6 in T20Is is among the best for fast bowlers with at least 50 wickets, reflecting his ability to bowl tight lines in the powerplay and death overs.

IPL performance

In the IPL, Bumrah has 145 wickets at an economy of 7.5 — exceptional numbers for a fast bowler. Hazlewood’s 75 IPL wickets come at a higher economy (8.2), though he has played fewer seasons and has been primarily a death-overs option for CSK and RCB.

Bowling style and accuracy

Hazlewood uses his height (6’4″) to generate bounce and seam movement off the pitch, while Bumrah relies on a unique sling-action to deliver lethal yorkers and slower balls. Both are considered among the best death bowlers in world cricket, but their approaches are different: Bumrah through pace variation and Hazlewood through length and bounce.

The verdict: Bumrah has more wickets and a better average; Hazlewood has better control over run rate. The answer depends on whether a team needs a wicket-taker or an economy specialist.

Who is Josh Hazlewood’s wife?

Personal life details

Josh Hazlewood is married to Susie Clements, as confirmed by Wikipedia. The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony away from the public eye. Susie is a registered nurse from Australia, and the pair have maintained a relatively low-profile personal life compared to other cricketers.

Age, height, debut

Born on 8 January 1991 in Tamworth, New South Wales, Hazlewood stands 6’4″ (193 cm). He made his Test debut in December 2014 against India in Brisbane, ODI debut in June 2015 against West Indies, and T20I debut in March 2016 against South Africa.

Career milestones

• 2014: Test debut vs India
• 2015: ODI debut & ICC Cricket World Cup winner
• 2021: ICC T20 World Cup winner
• 2023: ICC Cricket World Cup winner
• 267 Test wickets, 144 ODI wickets, 56 T20I wickets

IPL history with CSK and RCB

Hazlewood’s IPL career began with Chennai Super Kings in 2015. He played for CSK in 2015 and then again from 2018 to 2020. In 2021, he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he has been a key overseas fast bowler. His IPL best bowling figures are 4/25.

Hazlewood’s career has been marked by consistent performance across formats, but the 2026 injury setback represents the most significant disruption to his availability for major tournaments.

Timeline: Josh Hazlewood’s career at a glance

The timeline shows a clear pattern: Hazlewood’s career was steady until the injury chain that began in early 2025, with the 2026 season representing the peak disruption to his ability to play back-to-back tournaments.

What we know and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Josh Hazlewood is ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026 — per Olympics.com
• He will miss the start of IPL 2026 for two weeks — per Times of India
• Injury chain began with hamstring strain, followed by Achilles issues — per ESPNcricinfo
• He had not played a match since November 2025 — per Olympics.com
• Bumrah has more T20I wickets but Hazlewood has better economy

What’s unclear

• Exact date of return to cricket after recovery
• Whether he will play later in IPL 2026 after the two-week absence
• Long-term impact on his career at age 34
• Who will replace him in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad

“Rushing Hazlewood back would pose too much risk.”

— Tony Dodemaide, Australia selector, to ESPNcricinfo

“We expected him back by the Super 8 stage before medical advice ruled that timeline too optimistic.”

— Tony Dodemaide, Australia selector, to ESPNcricinfo

“Hazlewood is ready to return soon, but not for the opening match.”

— Andy Flower, RCB coach, to India Today

For Australian cricket fans and RCB supporters alike, the 2026 season has become a test of patience. Hazlewood’s recurring injuries have taken a player known for reliability and turned him into a question mark for every tournament schedule. Cricket Australia must manage his return carefully or risk losing one of their most economical bowlers for the long term.

For more on Josh Hazlewoods injury and absence, including his recovery timeline and impact on Australia’s campaign, the full report covers the details.

Frequently asked questions

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