Josh Hazlewood Compares Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Starc and Cummins
A Partnership Built on Precision
In the high-stakes environment of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the chemistry between opening bowlers can often define the trajectory of an entire season. For Australian pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood, playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) this year has offered a sense of familiarity that he usually reserves for international duty. Hazlewood has publicly praised veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, placing him on the same tactical pedestal as his long-time Australian comrades, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a revelation this season, currently dominating the Purple Cap standings with an impressive tally of 22 wickets from just 12 matches. His ability to move the ball with surgical precision in the powerplay has provided RCB with a defensive bedrock that few other teams can boast. According to Hazlewood, this consistency is exactly what makes the partnership work so seamlessly.
Defining the Balance of the Attack
Hazlewood, known for his relentless accuracy and ability to hit the deck hard, believes that his contrasting style complements Kumar’s natural swing bowling perfectly. While Bhuvneshwar excels at pitching the ball up to find movement, Hazlewood focuses on hitting the seam to extract bounce, creating a two-pronged threat that keeps opposing batters guessing.
Reflecting on this dynamic, Hazlewood noted, “It’s a little bit like bowling with Patty and Starcy for Australia. Bhuvi probably pitches it up a little more and swings the ball. I can hit the seam and get a bit of bounce. It’s nice to have balance in your attack. Last year and this year we’ve had a nice mix.” This strategic diversity ensures that the bowling attack remains unpredictable, preventing batters from settling into a rhythm.
The Art of the Bounce-Back
Beyond the raw statistics, Hazlewood holds a unique philosophy regarding a fast bowler’s mental fortitude. Even in a season where he has claimed 11 wickets in nine outings, his value to the side is measured by his impact during high-pressure phases. For Hazlewood, the most satisfying performances are not necessarily the ones where he collects a bucket load of wickets, but those where he contains the opposition under duress.
“If you’re bowling on a flat wicket and go for 2 for 40 while everyone else goes for 50 or 60, I think those are the satisfying games,” he explained. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, particularly when a bowler gets hit for runs early in their spell. “When the batting side is dominant and your first over goes for 20, and then you fight back with yorkers or changes of pace and finish with decent figures, those are the games I’m probably most proud of.”
Squad Depth and Strategic Versatility
Hazlewood also touched upon the broader composition of the RCB squad, noting that the management has successfully covered all tactical bases. The inclusion of diverse bowling profiles—ranging from the left-arm angle provided by Rasikh Salam to the guile of spinners like Suyash Sharma—mirrors the comprehensive structure often found in the Australian national setup.
“It feels a bit like Australia—every base is covered,” Hazlewood remarked. “If you’ve got three bowlers of the same style, the batter can get a pretty good read on what’s happening. Different skills and different styles make it harder.”
This holistic approach to team building is clearly paying dividends for RCB. By integrating experienced international campaigners like Hazlewood with the seasoned brilliance of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the franchise has cultivated a bowling unit capable of thriving on any surface. As the tournament progresses toward the business end, the synergy between these bowlers will undoubtedly be the cornerstone of RCB’s push for the title.
For cricket enthusiasts, watching a master tactician like Hazlewood analyze his craft while flourishing alongside a legend like Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a reminder that in the T20 format, patience, variation, and shared cricketing intelligence remain just as important as sheer pace.
Vivaan Sharma is a senior cricket analyst based in Hyderabad known for his in-depth coverage of IPL strategy, bowling performance metrics, and advanced cricket statistics. He has worked with multiple sports media platforms to deliver analytical content for cricket fans and fantasy league followers.
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