Josh Hazlewood’s Bold Critique: RCB ‘Slow On Learning’ After PBKS Loss

Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced their third straight home defeat, falling to Punjab Kings by five wickets in a 14-over match. Pacer Josh Hazlewood attributed the loss to an unusual Chinnaswamy pitch and his teammates’ failure to apply crucial lessons from earlier games. Despite the pitch typically offering consistent bounce, Hazlewood noted, “It’s not a typical Chinnaswamy wicket,” echoing concerns raised by RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik about the playing surface.

Hazlewood emphasized the team’s slow adaptation, particularly in the powerplay overs, which impacted their performance. He expressed confidence in turning the trend around, stating, “We’ll dive into this game… and come up with a few ideas of where we can learn and improve.” He advised batters to assess conditions better before going for aggressive shots, highlighting the need for strong performances from their top order.

On the winning side, Punjab Kings’ Harpreet Brar commended Nehal Wadhera for his poise in the chase, where Wadhera’s unbeaten 33 off 19 helped stabilize the innings after a shaky start. Brar, playing his first match of the season, also showcased his skills by taking two crucial wickets, proving vital in PBKS’s victory. The match highlighted key tactics and adjustments as both teams look to enhance their strategies moving forward.