Sunday, 4 May 2025:

Josh Hazlewood.

Any injury to Josh Hazlewood with the World Test Championship final looming can only be a concern for Australia, so his shock absence from Royal Challengers Bengaluru's latest IPL match is enough to have alarm bells ringing.

Any setback for the veteran quick, in prime form in India since recovering from calf and side injuries that ruined his summer, is worrisome, but RCB were quick to suggest the shoulder niggle that sidelined the 34-year-old on Saturday wasn't serious.

"Fingers crossed, we're hopeful to have Josh Hazlewood and Phil Salt back for the next game," said RCB assistant coach Dinesh Karthik, referring also to the England batter, who has been down with a fever.

That at least sounded reassuring with the global Test showdown at Lord's against South Africa just over five weeks away.

And Hazlewood could probably do with a break because RCB have worked their precious resource hard, their star batter Virat Kohli calling his old Aussie adversary the team's difference-maker.

Yet even without the services of the IPL season's second most prolific wicket-taker, RCB still managed to prevail on Saturday with a crucial two-run home win over Chennai Super Kings that puts them atop the table.

Another quick proved their match-winner, with Yash Dayal holding his nerve in a last-ball thriller to see them home.

Chennai had needed 15 off the last over to win, but Dayal faced down a rampant Ravindra Jadeja, skipper MS Dhoni and powerful impact player Shivam Dube to edge them home.

Feeding them a diet of attempted yorkers, some of which morphed into awkward full tosses, Dayal  got rid of the mighty Dhoni off the third ball and, critically, conceded only three singles off the last three deliveries.

The result left already eliminated Chennai stranded on 5-211 in answer to Bengaluru's 5-213.

"I felt I should have converted a couple of more shots, and eased the pressure, so I will take the blame for it," said 43-year-old Dhoni, who has overseen a wretched season with just two wins from 11 games.

Chennai could at least enjoy a fantastic knock from 17-year-old opener Ayush Mhatre, who hit 94 off 48 balls while putting on 114 with Jadeja, who finished unbeaten on 77.

Hazlewood's direct replacement, South African Lungi Ngidi,  did his bit with a game-swinging 17th over in which he stopped Mhatre's century dream with a slower one and trapped compatriot Dewald Brevis lbw.

Earlier, half-centuries by RCB openers Kohli and Jacob Bethell weren't built upon until Romario Shepherd produced a mesmerising finale with 53 not out off just 14 balls, the equal second-fastest half-century in IPL annals.

Aussie Tim David, usually RCB's big-hitting finisher, could only watch the big Guyanan from the other end in utter amazement as Khaleel Ahmed's 19th over went for 33, Shepherd bludgeoning four sixes and two fours.

The pair enjoyed an unbroken partnership of 56 at the death, and David had to laugh - he scored just two of them.

Kohli's fourth successive half-century earned him the orange cap as the league's top scorer with a tally of 505 for the season.

AAP