Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Josh Hazlewood after Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered a comprehensive eight-wicket win against Punjab Kings in the first qualifier in the ongoing IPL 2025 at New Chandigarh on Thursday.
Hazlewood was making a comeback after recovering from a shoulder niggle and the Australian was able to hit the ground running. The lanky pacer accounted for Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer in his first over as the home team was left reeling at 30-3. This was the fourth time when Hazlewood dismissed Iyer in the IPL.
The Australian then dismissed his compatriot Josh Inglis with a short ball and also ended Azmatullah Omarzai’s cameo with Jitesh Sharma taking a spectacular catch. Hazlewood returned with impressive figures of 3-21 in 3.1 overs he bowled and played a key role in skittling out PBKS at 101.
“Josh Hazlewood came, and what a trajectory this guy has. He doesn’t stop. He had come after an injury. At times, you are slightly ginger when you return from injury and are playing your first match. He said ‘Forget that, I will do it,’” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“He dismissed Shreyas Iyer for the fourth time. Shreyas Iyer isn’t able to play at all against him, and he didn’t stop there. After that, Josh Inglis. I thought those were the two biggest wickets in the middle order, and it was all over,” he added.
On the other hand, the renowned commentator hailed Suyash Sharma, who bagged 3-17 in the three overs he bowled. The leg-spinner accounted for Shashank Singh, Musheer Khan, and Marcus Stoinis in his fine spell.
“What was this team’s weakness? If you ask me to preview this team once again now, I would still say there is a slight weakness in spin bowling, and there is no upgrade in spin in the form of Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, and that there are chances of them getting stuck there,” he said.
“Krunal Pandya had already won two Player of the Match awards, and now Suyash Sharma came and bowled within the three stumps. His googly turns more. The leg spin turns less. He picked up three wickets, and whose wickets were those – Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, and Musheer Khan, who came in as the impact player,” Chopra observed.
The former Delhi player lauded Sharma for being right on the money and delivering for RCB.
“He was outstanding, considering the way he bowled. The speed at which bowls, you cannot pull him. You are slightly scared while playing the sweep as well. However, if you are unable to read him from his hand, he will hit your stumps. It should have been the weak link logically. Forget logically, see what the kid has done practically,” Chopra elaborated.
RCB will play in their fourth IPL final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
