Josh Hazlewood Compares Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Starc and Cummins

A Dynamic Partnership in the IPL

In the high-stakes environment of the Indian Premier League, finding a bowling partner who complements your own style is the key to success. For Australian pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood, that synergy has been found in the veteran Indian seamer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The RCB bowling unit has benefited immensely from this pairing, with Hazlewood even going so far as to claim that he does not feel the absence of his long-time Australian compatriots, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, when he is sharing the field with Kumar.

The Purple Cap Contender

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a revelation this season. Sitting at the top of the Purple Cap leaderboard with 22 wickets from just 12 matches, his form has been nothing short of sensational. His ability to move the ball with clinical precision at the start of an innings has established him as one of the most feared bowlers in the powerplay. For any team, having such a reliable option to dismantle top-order batting lineups is a luxury, and Hazlewood is clearly appreciative of the stability Kumar provides.

Tactical Harmony: Why the Pair Works

Hazlewood, known for his metronomic accuracy and ability to hit the deck hard, believes that his contrast in style with Kumar is what makes them so effective. While Kumar excels at pitching the ball up and extracting swing, Hazlewood focuses on seam movement and extracting bounce from the surface. This variety ensures that opposing batters never get a comfortable look at the bowling, a hallmark of the most successful pace attacks in international cricket.

Reflecting on this dynamic, Hazlewood noted that the setup mirrors his experience at the international level. It is 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 is nice to have balance in your attack. Last year and this year we have had a nice mix.

The Art of Bowling on Flat Tracks

While statistics often dominate the conversation in T20 cricket, Josh Hazlewood places a premium on the character and resilience of a bowler. Having played all over the world, he understands that not every day results in a four-wicket haul. In fact, he finds deep satisfaction in ‘damage control’—a trait that separates great bowlers from good ones.

Hazlewood articulated his philosophy on bouncing back after conceding runs early in a spell. If you are 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. But 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 am probably most proud of.

Building a Complete Unit

Beyond his individual partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hazlewood is highly impressed with the overall composition of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowling attack. He believes the team has successfully covered every tactical base, creating a multifaceted threat that is difficult for any batting lineup to decipher.

The veteran pacer highlighted the specific roles played by other members of the squad. With the inclusion of Rasikh Salam providing a left-arm angle, and the spin duo of Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya offering variety, the team feels well-rounded. Hazlewood emphasized that having three bowlers of the same style allows a batter to settle in, whereas different skills and styles force the opposition to constantly adjust their game plan. This strategic diversity is exactly what makes the current RCB setup feel like a well-oiled international machine, capable of winning games on any surface.

Conclusion

As the tournament progresses, the reliance on experienced campaigners like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will only intensify. Their ability to remain calm under pressure, combined with their shared tactical vision, positions RCB as a formidable side in the latter stages of the competition. For fans and analysts alike, watching these two masters of the craft work in tandem remains one of the season’s true highlights.