Josh Hazlewood
Role: Bowler
DOB: 08 January 1991
IPL Team (2026): Unsold/Retired
Base Price: N/A (Last bought for INR 7.75 Cr in 2022)
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 27 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 6* | 10.00 | 10 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0* | – | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 6* | 10.00 | 10 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2021 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0* | – | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0* | – | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 27 | 618 | 834 | 35 | 4/25 | 23.82 | 8.10 | 17.65 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 66 | 96 | 3 | 2/15 | 32.00 | 8.72 | 22.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 12 | 276 | 373 | 20 | 4/25 | 18.65 | 8.10 | 13.80 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 9 | 204 | 288 | 11 | 3/24 | 26.18 | 8.47 | 18.54 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 3 | 72 | 77 | 1 | 1/19 | 77.00 | 6.41 | 72.00 | 0 | 0 |
The Story of Josh Hazlewood
Hailing from Tamworth, New South Wales, Josh Hazlewood is the quintessential Australian fast bowler – tall, relentless, and possessing an uncanny ability to hit a consistent line and length. Often dubbed “The Big Pigeon” for his lanky frame and precise bowling, Hazlewood made his name primarily in Test cricket, where his control and subtle seam movement made him a formidable opponent. His IPL journey, however, began a little later, as teams initially preferred more T20-specialist pacers.
Hazlewood finally made his IPL debut in 2020, picked up by Chennai Super Kings for INR 2 Crore. While his initial seasons with CSK were somewhat subdued, playing only 3 matches in 2020 and 9 in their title-winning 2021 campaign, he showed glimpses of his immense talent. His breakthrough moment in the IPL truly arrived in the 2022 mega-auction when Royal Challengers Bangalore secured his services for a hefty INR 7.75 Crore. It was with RCB that Hazlewood unleashed his full T20 potential, becoming a vital cog in their bowling attack.
His playing style is built on immaculate control and subtle variations. Unlike many modern T20 pacers who rely solely on raw pace, Hazlewood uses his height to extract bounce, often targeting the good length area with pinpoint accuracy. He’s adept at bowling in all phases of the game – swinging the new ball, stifling batsmen in the middle overs with his cutters and slower balls, and delivering accurate yorkers and wide deliveries at the death. His calm demeanor under pressure, even in the high-stakes environment of the IPL, makes him a captain’s dream.
The 2022 season was his career-defining IPL year, where he picked up 20 wickets from just 12 matches, including a memorable 4/25 against the Lucknow Super Giants. This performance cemented his status as one of the league’s premier overseas fast bowlers, proving that his Test-match discipline could translate effectively to the shortest format. Despite a truncated 2023 season due to injury, his impact remains undeniable, leaving fans and bettors alike to wonder about his potential return to the league.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Josh Hazlewood’s IPL journey has seen him don the yellow of Chennai Super Kings and the red of Royal Challengers Bangalore. His first taste of the IPL came in the 2020 auction when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) acquired him for INR 2 Crore. In his debut season, he played only 3 matches, picking up 1 wicket with a respectable economy of 6.41. He continued with CSK in 2021, where he had a more significant role, featuring in 9 matches and contributing 11 wickets to their title-winning campaign, including a crucial 3/24 against Punjab Kings.
The 2022 mega-auction saw a fierce bidding war for Hazlewood, with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) eventually securing him for a massive INR 7.75 Crore. This move proved to be a masterstroke for RCB, as Hazlewood delivered his career-best IPL performance. He played 12 matches, scalping 20 wickets at an impressive average of 18.65 and an economy of 8.10. His ability to pick up wickets in the powerplay and at the death, coupled with his economical spells, made him indispensable. He was retained by RCB for the 2023 season but an Achilles injury limited him to just 3 matches, where he managed 3 wickets before returning home. He subsequently opted out of the 2024 season due to the birth of his child and managing his workload, leading to his current status as Unsold/Retired for 2026.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
From a betting perspective, Josh Hazlewood offers a blend of reliability and wicket-taking potential, particularly when conditions suit. His primary strength lies in his exceptional control and ability to hit a consistent hard length, making him difficult to score off. This translates into a strong bet for “Under” on his “Runs Conceded” market, especially on pitches with a bit of bounce or movement. He’s not a bowler who will be easily taken for 50+ runs on most days.
Hazlewood thrives on pitches that offer even a hint of assistance, be it seam movement or bounce. On such tracks, betting on him for “Over” on “Wickets Taken” or as a “Top Bowler” for his team becomes a viable strategy. His subtle variations – the slower ball, the cutter, and the well-disguised bouncer – are highly effective against batsmen looking to accelerate in the middle and death overs. He’s particularly effective against teams that struggle against disciplined pace and accuracy rather than raw pace.
A key weakness for bettors to consider is his injury history and workload management. His truncated 2023 season and withdrawal from 2024 highlight that his availability can be a concern. When he is fit and firing, however, his consistency metrics are strong. He rarely has an “off” day where he’s smashed all over the park. Bettors should look for matchups against top-heavy batting lineups that might be susceptible to his disciplined line and length, rather than pure power hitters who thrive on pace. He’s a safer bet in larger grounds where boundaries are harder to come by and his accuracy can be maximized.
Key Records & Milestones
- Best IPL Season: 20 wickets in 12 matches during IPL 2022 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
- Best Bowling Figures: 4/25 against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022.
- Excellent Economy: Maintained an impressive career IPL economy rate of 8.10, showcasing his control.
- Consistent Wicket-taker: Averaged a wicket every 17.65 balls in his IPL career, a strong strike rate for a pace bowler.
- Crucial Powerplay Bowler: Often picked up key wickets in the powerplay, providing early breakthroughs for his teams.
IPL Season Highlights
Josh Hazlewood’s IPL journey truly peaked in the 2022 season with Royal Challengers Bangalore. After being bought for a significant sum, he repaid the faith with a stellar performance, picking up 20 wickets from just 12 matches at an average of 18.65. His standout performance came against Lucknow Super Giants where he ripped through their batting lineup with figures of 4/25, including the crucial wickets of Quinton de Kock and Manish Pandey, helping RCB secure a vital victory. He consistently provided breakthroughs, often in the powerplay or death overs, including a 3/28 against Delhi Capitals and a 2/28 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His disciplined bowling was a cornerstone of RCB’s run to the playoffs that year.
While not as prolific, his 2021 season with Chennai Super Kings also deserves mention. Playing 9 matches, he claimed 11 wickets at an economy of 8.47. He played a crucial role in CSK’s title triumph, particularly in the UAE leg of the tournament. A notable performance was his 3/24 against Punjab Kings, which helped restrict them to a manageable total, showcasing his ability to take wickets even when the pressure was on. These two seasons highlight his capability to perform at the highest level of T20 cricket when given a consistent run.