Josh Hazlewood Shines with 4/12: Ian Bishop Praises Australian’s Bowling Mastery
Josh Hazlewood delivered a masterclass in pace bowling on Monday, claiming 4/12 to dismantle the Delhi Capitals and secure Player of the Match honors for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The Capitals were skittled out for just 75 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, handing RCB a commanding victory in a lopsided contest.
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Masterful Display on a Spicy Delhi Track
The pitch in New Delhi offered plenty of movement, and Hazlewood exploited it to perfection. Operating with relentless accuracy and seam movement, the 35-year-old pacer struck early and often. He bowled with Test-match discipline, hitting challenging lengths that unsettled the Capitals’ top order from the outset.
His spell began with the crucial wicket of KL Rahul, whom he coaxed into a pull shot that ended in Jitesh Sharma‘s gloves. On the very next ball, he dismissed Sameer Rizvi for a golden duck, repeating the same lethal formula. He later accounted for Nitish Rana, who fended off a sharp bouncer straight to Devdutt Padikkal. Hazlewood returned at the death to remove Abhishek Porel, wrapping up a devastating performance that left Delhi reeling.
Support from Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Hazlewood wasn’t alone in the carnage. Veteran swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with 3 wickets, forming a lethal new-ball partnership that reduced Delhi to 6 wickets down for just 8 runs at one stage. The Capitals’ batting lineup crumbled under the disciplined pace attack, with only a few batters managing to stay past the first few overs.
Ian Bishop: “He Understands Bowling”
Legendary West Indies pacer Ian Bishop, now part of the IPL 2026 commentary team, heaped praise on Hazlewood during an appearance on ESPN Cricinfo’s Time Out alongside former India spinner Piyush Chawla. Bishop highlighted the Australian’s growth and maturity over the years.
“Josh understands his body and has a good understanding of his bowling as well,” said the 58-year-old. “The transformation into a T20 bowler—people will say that his length still works for him.”
Bishop’s praise underscores Hazlewood’s evolution from a red-ball specialist to a feared T20 operator. After returning from injury, the Aussie has shown remarkable control and awareness, adapting his skills to thrive in the shortest format.
RCB’s Crucial Momentum Builder
This emphatic win gives RCB crucial momentum as they prepare for two tough away fixtures. Their next challenge is a return clash against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad—a team that recently posted over 200 runs yet suffered defeat, with Sai Sudharsan scoring a century in the process.
Following that, RCB will travel to Lucknow to face the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium. With Rishabh Pant leading a strong lineup, it will be another high-pressure encounter.
Path to the Playoffs
Back-to-back wins in these upcoming matches could position the reigning champions on the brink of playoff qualification. Hazlewood’s return to form, combined with Bhuvneshwar’s experience and the team’s growing confidence, makes RCB a serious contender this season.
As the IPL 2026 season heats up, performances like Hazlewood’s 4/12 serve as reminders that precision, discipline, and cricketing intelligence still reign supreme—even in the age of power-hitting.
