'Please bring back Josh Hazlewood'! RCB fans cry, voice frustration after 42-run loss to SRH

It seems like every team that has qualified for the Playoffs is now struggling! First, it was Gujarat Titans (GT), who lost to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and now it's Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who were defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The 42-run margin may suggest a comfortable win for SRH, but the match was anything but one-sided.

RCB were well in the chase until the 14th over, pursuing a massive target of 232. Early fireworks from Virat Kohli (43 off 25) and Phil Salt (62 off 32), followed by a steady knock from Jitesh Sharma (24 off 15) in the middle order, kept them in the hunt. However, SRH's bowlers kept striking at regular intervals, which eventually derailed the Bengaluru franchise's innings.

?????? ????? in Lucknow! ?@SunRisers secure back-to-back wins with a convincing all-round show against #RCB ?

Updates ? https://t.co/sJ6dOP9ung#TATAIPL | #RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/J5YLwtUvo3

¡ª IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 23, 2025

With this loss, RCB's hopes of securing a top-two finish have taken a major hit. Their fate is no longer in their own hands¡ªthey now need other results to go their way, relying on either Gujarat Titans (GT) or Punjab Kings (PBKS) to falter in their remaining games.

About the game

The turning point came in the 15th over when Nitish Kumar Reddy¡ªwho hasn¡¯t bowled much this season¡ªdelivered a tight spell. But the real game-changer was Eshan Malinga in the very next over. After being smashed for 17 runs in his first, he returned with precision, nailing yorkers and generating reverse swing with the old ball.

He first ran out Rajat Patidar (18 off 16), then dismissed Romario Shepherd for a golden duck, and shortly after sent back Jitesh Sharma. What followed was a dramatic collapse¡ªRCB lost their final seven wickets for just 16 runs, turning what had been a competitive chase into a crushing defeat.

Where is Josh Hazlewood?

While some fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) are pointing fingers at RCB's lower order, others are questioning how their bowlers allowed an out-of-form SRH lineup to post a massive 231. Romario Shepherd took two wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Suyash Sharma, and Krunal Pandya chipped in with one each. Yash Dayal went wicketless.

The absence of Josh Hazlewood was deeply felt, with many fans expressing concern over the impact him not being there is having on the team's bowling unit.

One said, "What's the update on Hazelwood???? Is he coming back? Cause no way we are making it even to the finals without that 6'5" Australian."

What¡¯s the update on #Hazelwood???? Is he coming back? Cause no way we are making it even to the finals without that 6'5" Australian.

¡ª Sumeet Katke (@KatkeSumeet) May 23, 2025

Another said, "Please bring back Hazelwood".

Please bring back Hazelwood @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/6BeBW5n1np

¡ª . (@ChaseMaster133) May 23, 2025

One wrote, "Vintage RCB back in form. Without Hazelwood, scary thing ahead for RCB".

Vintage RCB back in form. Without hazelwood, scary thing ahead for rcb

¡ª Sanjay Prajapat (@SanjayP92560574) May 23, 2025

Another added, "Today we got to know RCB bowling is full of dinda academy without Josh Hazelwood".

He is right. Today we got to know RCB bowling is full of dinda academy without Josh Hazelwood

¡ª Anshul Tiwari (@AnshulT25600630) May 23, 2025

RCB vs SRH: Teams

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Jitesh Sharma(w/c), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Lungi Ngidi, Suyash Sharma
Impact Subs: Rajat Patidar, Rasikh Dar Salam, Jacon Bethell, Manoj Bhandage, Swapnil Singh

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins(c), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga
Impact Subs: Mohammad Shami, Harsh Dubey, Sachin Baby, Zeeshan Ansari, Simarjeet Singh