Josh Hazlewood Reflects on RCB’s Win Over CSK: “We Used the Conditions Perfectly”

The Australian pacer credited team energy, strategic bowling, and the impact of left-armer Yash Dayal in RCB’s commanding 50-run victory at Chepauk.

New Delhi, March 29: After powering Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a historic 50-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), fast bowler Josh Hazlewood expressed satisfaction over both his personal performance and the team’s execution under pressure.

In his post-match presentation, Hazlewood said, “The ball is coming out nicely, I’m fresh and feeling good. As a group, we were outstanding. We read the pitch perfectly, much like we did in our previous game. This wicket was a bit two-paced, and we hit the right lengths.”

Hazlewood’s early double blow—removing Rahul Tripathi (5) and CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) in the second over—set the tone for the match. He later returned to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja (25), finishing with 3/21 in 4 overs at a stellar economy rate of 5.20.

The Australian pacer praised the energy of the squad and the influence of left-arm pacer Yash Dayal, who chipped in with 2/18. “Energy is great at RCB, it lifts the fielding unit. Yash adds great value—his change of pace is top-class. Every team needs a left-armer, and he’s been excellent for us,” Hazlewood added.

RCB now sits atop the IPL 2025 table with two consecutive wins, marking their first-ever victory over CSK at Chepauk since 2008.

In the match, RCB posted 196/7 thanks to key contributions from Phil Salt (34), Devdutt Padikkal (27), Rajat Patidar (51), and a late flourish by *Tim David (22 off 8 balls)**. RCB’s bowlers then restricted CSK to 146/8, with Hazlewood, Dayal, and Liam Livingstone (2/28) leading the charge.

The win highlights RCB’s balanced squad depth and strategic adaptability—a promising sign for the rest of the tournament.