Josh Hazlewood Criticizes RCB’s Slow Learning Curve After Latest Defeat Against Punjab Kings

In a candid post-match interview, Josh Hazlewood expressed his disappointment with Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) continued struggles, as they succumbed to their third consecutive home defeat in IPL 2025. Hazlewood, one of the senior members of the squad, placed much of the blame on the team’s slow adaptation to conditions and lessons from previous games.

RCB’s Lack of Adaptability Continues to Cost Them

The match against Punjab Kings, which was cut short to 14 overs per side due to rain, ended in a five-wicket loss for RCB. This latest defeat comes after earlier setbacks against Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals. Hazlewood was outspoken in his assessment, stating that RCB’s failure to quickly learn from their earlier losses had contributed to their downfall.

“Yeah, it’s obviously three (defeats) in a row now at home. It’s just we’ve probably been a bit slow on the learnings from the first two games and didn’t put that into practice as well as we could have, probably in those first probably six to eight overs, obviously, with the score the way it was,” Hazlewood said, referring to the lackluster start during the crucial opening overs of the match.

Challenges with the Chinnaswamy Wicket

Another factor Hazlewood pointed out was the unexpected behavior of the Chinnaswamy pitch. Known traditionally for being a batting-friendly wicket, the conditions this season have been somewhat different, which seemed to unsettle RCB’s batsmen. Hazlewood echoed the concerns raised by mentor Dinesh Karthik, who had criticized the pitch’s consistency after RCB’s defeat to Delhi.

“Yeah, I think it’s not a typical Chinnaswamy wicket. Obviously, the bounce has always been there, but in past years, it’s probably been more consistent,” Hazlewood observed.

A Note of Optimism for the Bowling Unit

Despite the team’s recent struggles, Hazlewood remained cautiously optimistic about RCB’s bowling performance. He acknowledged that there had been improvements with the ball, suggesting that progress, though slow, was being made.

“I think the bowling definitely improved from the last two outings. So sort of we’re slowly getting there, but probably not quick enough,” he noted. Hazlewood emphasized that the team needed to continue working on their strategies and execution in the upcoming matches.

The Need for More Batting Stability

The senior pacer also turned his attention to the batting unit. He urged them to take a more measured approach and not rush their strokes. RCB’s batting has been a weak point in several of their recent defeats. Hazlewood believes that a more calculated strategy could help them recover.

“Maybe it might be a case of pulling back a touch and giving yourself a little bit of time… If we can have our top five, top six doing the batting for the 20 overs, I think that’ll go a long way to helping us win,” he said, stressing the importance of partnerships and playing through the full length of the innings.

Looking Ahead: A Need for Introspection

Looking to the future, Hazlewood called for a thorough review of their performances, especially when they return to Bangalore. He suggested that RCB need to critically analyze their mistakes. They need to come up with actionable ideas to turn their campaign around.

“We’ll dive into this game and probably more so when we get back to Bangalore, and really go through in detail and with a fine-tooth comb and come up with a few ideas of where we can learn and improve,” he concluded.

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