Former India all-rounder and coach Sanjay Bangar has come out in support of Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood’s decision to complete his Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 duties before joining the national squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. While several of Hazlewood’s teammates departed early for England to begin red-ball preparation, the right-arm seamer chose to stay back and help Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their title-winning playoff run.
Hazlewood, who finished the season with 22 wickets from 12 matches, was instrumental in RCB lifting their maiden IPL trophy. His composed spell of 3/21 in Qualifier 1 and his early breakthrough in the final against PBKS underlined his value, particularly with the new ball.
Critics questioned his decision to play franchise cricket so close to a marquee red-ball encounter. However, Bangar dismissed the concerns, arguing that game-time, even in a different format, can aid rhythm and confidence.
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“In T20s, you bowl just four overs, but they’re high-intensity. It’s almost like extended net sessions but under pressure,” Sanjay Bangar told the media. “Playing back-to-back matches like Hazlewood did can really help maintain rhythm going into a big Test like the WTC final.”
He further explained that while formats differ, the match environment sharpens a bowler’s mindset and control. “What matters is how often you’re playing. Hazlewood had a consistent run with RCB after recovering from injury, and that bodes well for his rhythm,” Sanjay Bangar added.
Hazlewood, who was bought for ₹12.50 crore in the auction, justified every penny with his performances in crunch moments. More importantly, the stint appears to have set him up nicely for red-ball duties.
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With 57 wickets in the WTC 2023–25 cycle at an average of 19.68, he enters the Lord’s final as one of Australia’s most in-form pacers—both battle-hardened and confident. As Australia gear up for the ultimate showdown against South Africa, Hazlewood’s decision to stay with RCB now seems more pragmatic than controversial.
