Rejuvenated Josh Hazlewood has demonstrated why he was the most expensive Australian buy in the IPL auction as his masterly, miserly bowling helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian league's season-opener.
It may have been a hard slog to get the 34-year-old pacer fit for the fray after his injury travails, but RCB may already be thinking $2.29 million for Hazlewood's return is money well spent after his 2-22 off four superb overs on Saturday proved key to their seven-wicket win that silenced KKR's fevered Eden Gardens fan club.
Hazlewood, outstanding for RCB back in 2022, hadn't featured in the league for two seasons and was back only after a concerning summer when he'd endured two calf injuries and a side strain, missing Australia's Champions Trophy quest.
