RCB’s top 5-6 batters must bat for 20 overs: Josh Hazlewood on fixing home woes-OxBig News Network

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have not been able to get the better of their home woes in the ongoing IPL 2025, suffering their third consecutive defeat at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium after losing to PBKS on April 18. While the team continues to search for a winning formula, their star pacer Josh Hazlewood believes that if RCB’s top order bats out the full 20 overs, it could be the key to turning things around at home.

RCB have won all four of their away games so far in IPL 2025, giving them a decent start to the season. However, their disastrous home record has spelt frequent trouble for the franchise as they continue their pursuit of a maiden IPL title. Following the 5-wicket loss to PBKS on Friday, RCB’s understanding of their home conditions has come under the scanner.

RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025 Highlights

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Hazlewood shared his thoughts on the issue. He opined that RCB’s top 5 to 6 batters need to take control of the run momentum and bat through the innings, which could significantly improve their chances of success at home.

“It’s not a typical Chinnaswamy wicket. Obviously, the bounce has always been there, but in the past, it’s probably been more consistent. I find that if you really hit that six-to-eight metre length hard, it’s quite tough to bat on—and we’ve definitely found that this season,” Hazlewood said.

“Maybe it’s just about the bowlers pulling back a touch and giving themselves a bit of time to assess. In the first two games we lost here, it was one batter from the opposition going big, forming a partnership, and scoring heavily late in the innings…So if we can have our top five or top six batting through the 20 overs, I think that’ll go a long way in helping us win at home,” he added.

RCB vs PBKS: As it happened

In the Friday clash at the Chinnaswamy, it was yet another batting collapse that cost RCB two vital points. The rain-affected match was reduced to 14 overs per side. Batting first, RCB’s star-studded lineup failed to deliver on what is usually considered a batting-friendly surface at their home ground.

With the top order crumbling, it was only thanks to Tim David’s unbeaten 50 off 26 deliveries that the side managed to reach 95 runs. However, the total proved insufficient for the RCB bowling attack—featuring the likes of Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Suyash Sharma—as PBKS batter Nehal Wadhera guided his team home with an unbeaten 33 off 19 balls.

RCB will now be looking to bounce back from the defeat and seek redemption against the same opponents, PBKS, when the two teams meet again on April 20.