Due to concerns over injuries, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) may need to find replacements for Josh Hazlewood for the upcoming IPL 2025 season.
Hazlewood, who RCB acquired in the IPL 2025 auction, has been dealing with injuries, making his participation in the tournament uncertain.
Ottneil Baartman
He has a reputation for nailing yorkers at the death and can also be used as an enforcer in the middle overs.
Baartman has picked 8 wickets in 8 matches in the ongoing SA20 season, but had a terrific outing last time around with as many as 18 scalps from 8 games.
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB’s home ground, is known for its batting-friendly pitch.
Having a bowler like Baartman, who can bowl tight yorkers under pressure, could be a game-changer for RCB in defending totals or restricting opposition scores.
His ability to bowl in the middle overs also provides crucial flexibility to the captain.
Kartik Tyagi
Kartik Tyagi is known for his pace and hit-the-deck bowling. As RCB doesn’t have a proper hit-the-deck pacer in their squad, Tyagi could be a decent replacement if Hazlewood misses out some part of the IPL 2025.
Tyagi’s main strength lies in his express pace and ability to generate steep bounce from good length areas. This “hit the deck” bowling style is particularly effective on pitches that offer some extra bounce, potentially troubling opposition batsmen.
RCB’s current squad lacks a proper hit-the-deck pacer. Adding Tyagi would diversify their bowling attack, providing them with a different dimension and an ability to exploit any extra bounce on offer.
Shivam Mavi
Mavi can test the batters with his razor-sharp bowling. He can form a deadly opening bowling pair with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, while chipping in with a few overs in the final two phases of the game.
Mavi’s bowling action allows him to generate good pace and extract seam movement, making him a difficult proposition for batsmen to handle.
He is known for his aggressive approach and ability to bowl crucial overs.
