IPL 2023: Josh to miss initial phase, Maxwell doubtful for 1st game

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered two major blows ahead of their inaugural game against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 16th season of the Indian Premier League.

As all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood may miss the first match due to injuries. Notably, Hazlewood has been out with an injury for some time and did not compete in the just finished Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

He was ruled out of the four-match Test series against India midway, working on his rehabilitate. The Australian pacer is suffering from an Achilles injury sustained during the series against South Africa.

The star pacer is now in Australia and healing well from his injury, but his participation in the IPL is doubtful. Cricket Australia revealed that the bowler will miss the early stages of the cash-rich event and will rejoin the RCB camp once fully recovered.

When it comes to Maxwell, the 34-year-old injured his leg shortly after the T20 World Cup ended, ruling him out of the Big Bash League as well.

He recently returned in the ODI series against India, but it is believed that the Australia international has yet to regain full match fitness and would hence be unable to play against the Mumbai Indians.

He is supposed to be focusing on strength and conditioning in the RCB camp gym in order to regain full fitness and play the season opening.

Wanindu Hasaranga, RCB's spin magician, will be unavailable for the first three games due to international commitments. Importantly, Sri Lanka is currently playing an ODI series against New Zealand and will thereafter face the hosts in a three-match T20I series.

As a result, Hasaranga will be permitted to join the RCB squad only after the T20I series concludes on April 8.

However, Will Jacks has already been ruled out of the tournament, and the franchise has replaced him with New Zealand international Michael Bracewell.

In 117 T20 appearances, the 32-year-old has scored 2284 runs at a strike rate of 133.48. He is also a capable bowler, having taken 40 wickets at an economy rate of 6.52 in the game's shortest format.

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