The 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is poised to take centre stage with Royal Challengers Bengaluru beginning its title defence against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday. Although a high-scoring match is anticipated at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, seasoned spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has provided an unexpected assessment. He thinks Josh Hazlewood’s absence will be felt strongly by RCB, which could tip the scales in favour of SRH. Ashwin said that Sunrisers have frequently had the advantage over RCB in prior meetings, suggesting that the reigning champions may have a difficult start to the season.
“SRH have got the better of RCB in the recent past and they will follow in this game also, I feel that this game will also follow that trend, for a strange reasons that RCB are without Hazlewood. In that game in Lucknow last year, as well, Hazlewood was not there, if I am not wrong,” R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Hazlewood has arrived in India but is awaiting approval from Cricket Australia, meaning he will not play in the season opener or the early games. The defending champions will lack important speed options when they start their title defence because Nuwan Thushara is expected to miss the whole IPL, and RCB has already confirmed that Yash Dayal will not be available this season.
Ashwin has expressed his thoughts on RCB’s opening match against SRH, building on the worries about important absences. He believes it will be a difficult match in which the visitors will win.
“For this game, I have a little prediction. RCB could have it tough, but RCB will find their rhythm. I have a feeling that SRH will once again dominate this game because SRH, in the recent past, have got the better of RCB,” he added.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Raseekh Salam, and Mangesh Yadav are expected to be part of RCB’s all-Indian speed lineup. Ashwin continued his analysis of RCB’s bowling issues by pointing out a significant flaw in their death-over performance, casting doubt on their capacity to limit runs under duress.
“Apart from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, RCB do not have much strength to control in the end. In RCB, we always have to remember that death overs bleed. If wickets are in hand, then it is not only difficult to stop runs in the death overs, it is impossible,” Ashwin said.
