Josh Hazlewood Compares Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Starc and Cummins in IPL 2025
Josh Hazlewood may be thousands of miles from home, but bowling alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) feels surprisingly familiar. The Australian speedster has gone on record to say that sharing the new ball with the Indian veteran gives him the same sense of balance and control he experiences with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the Australian setup.
Bhuvneshwar Leads the Charge
Bhuvneshwar Kumar currently sits atop the Purple Cap leaderboard with 22 wickets in 12 matches, a testament to his remarkable consistency and pinpoint accuracy. On typically flat Indian pitches that offer little assistance, his ability to swing the ball and maintain a disciplined line has made him one of the most dangerous bowlers in the power play.
Hazlewood, though less prolific with 11 wickets in nine games, has been a model of economy and control. Together, they’ve formed what many are calling the most effective pace duo of IPL 2025, delivering crucial breakthroughs at both ends of the innings.
A Balanced Attack
Speaking about their partnership, Hazlewood highlighted the synergy between their contrasting styles:
“It’s a little bit like bowling with Patty [Pat Cummins] and Starcy [Mitchell Starc] 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.” — Josh Hazlewood
This balance is crucial in modern T20 cricket, where batters look to dominate early. Hazlewood’s ability to extract bounce and seam movement complements Bhuvneshwar’s ability to swing the ball at a consistent length, making it difficult for openers to settle.
Resilience in the Face of Dominant Batting
Hazlewood also opened up about the mental resilience required when conditions favor the batters. He emphasized that pride doesn’t come from bowling in favorable conditions, but from fighting back when the odds are stacked against you:
“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 went on to explain:
“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’m probably most proud of.”
Such insights reflect the seasoned temperament of a bowler who’s faced the highest level of competition for over a decade.
RCB’s Well-Rounded Bowling Unit
Hazlewood also praised RCB’s bowling depth, noting how the absence of left-armer Yash Dayal hasn’t derailed their plans thanks to Rasikh Salam stepping up. The inclusion of Suyash Sharma (legspinner) and Krunal Pandya (left-arm spinner) adds further variation.
“It feels a bit like Australia—every base is covered,” Hazlewood observed. “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.”
With Hazlewood’s international experience, Bhuvneshwar’s IPL mastery, and a support cast offering multiple dimensions, RCB’s bowling attack looks as well-structured as any in the tournament.
Final Word
When a player of Josh Hazlewood’s calibre draws parallels between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Australian greats like Starc and Cummins, it’s not just praise—it’s validation. In a format where impact is measured in economy rates and breakthroughs, the RCB pace duo is delivering both, match after match. As the business end of IPL 2025 approaches, their ability to control games could be the key to RCB’s long-awaited title charge.
