Royal Challengers Bengaluru are playing their third game of IPL 2026 today as they are facing Rajasthan Royals in the 15th match of the season at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. RCB have received a major boost as the Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is finally playing for them in this clash. In fact, Hazlewood is featuring for the first time for the defending champions this season.
Interestingly, he joined the squad a couple of days before the start of IPL 2026, but was recovering from injuries he sustained a few months ago. Hazlewood first suffered a hamstring injury, which ruled him out of the opening Ashes Test vs England, and while recovering, he sustained an Achilles injury that forced him to miss the rest of the series and the subsequent T20 World Cup, too, which India won last month.
However, many hoped for him to recover in time for IPL. Unfortunately, Hazlewood hadn't regained full fitness and hence, didn't feature in the playing XI until the previous game.
Rain returns after the toss
Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to bowl first. However, rain returned when RCB skipper Rajat Patidar was speaking to Ian Bishop at the toss. The play was set to commence at 8:15 PM but is now expected to be delayed, even as we start losing over after 8:30 PM.
"This is our first away game. (Crowd cheering RCB) Thanks to everyone. I think you are making us feel that it's already our home ground. So we all love you. Unfortunately, Duffy misses out in this game. Josh in the place of Duffy. Duffy also bowled brilliantly in the last game. But everyone knows Josh is an experienced player, specialist. But I think his presence will definitely put us in a good frame of mind, I think," Patidar said at the toss.
Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Josh Hazlewood
