Mumbai: Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Anil Kumble praised Josh Hazlewood’s clutch bowling under pressure:
“He was outstanding. Given the surface, Hazlewood was expected to be the most dangerous bowler for RR. RCB were under pressure after Bhuvneshwar’s previous over went for 22 and Rajasthan Royals needed 40 off 3. But Hazlewood responded brilliantly—those two wickets and the sharp review by Jitesh Sharma turned the game in RCB’s favour. It was something special from the entire team, especially Hazlewood.”
JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar credited Josh Hazlewood’s impact on RCB’s bowling transformation:
“Josh Hazlewood brings the kind of consistency every captain dreams of. Under pressure, he keeps his cool, hits the right lengths, and knows exactly what to bowl to each batter. RCB’s bowling improvement over the years is largely due to him—he’s been their most reliable bowler, barring the season he missed due to injury. Hitting test-match lengths day in and day out is second nature to him. On a surface with steep bounce, it’s no surprise he picked up four wickets.”
Sanjay Bangar also reflected on Virat Kohli’s composed knock:
“This was typical Virat Kohli. After a couple of low scores, he returned to his default style—risk-free cricket, constructing the innings patiently. Once the game was set up, he opened up with attacking shots. The key was how he handled the first 7-8 overs and gave assurance not just to his partner, but also to the dugout. The way he paced the innings helped RCB post a slightly above-par total.”
Anil Kumble lauded RCB’s all-round effort, especially their comeback with the ball in the second innings:
“It wasn’t easy for RCB, especially after losing the toss. They had to do it the hard way—and they did. At the halfway mark, Rajasthan Royals were cruising, but the bowlers pulled it back brilliantly. The batting was exceptional; they read the conditions well to get to 205. The last 10 overs with the ball were well constructed, and Josh Hazlewood led the attack superbly.”
Sanjay Bangar pointed to key tactical errors and reckless shot selection as reasons behind RR’s defeat against RCB:
“Things look really bad for Rajasthan at the moment, and they have only themselves to blame for this loss. They failed to seize key moments—both while batting and bowling. Not giving Jofra Archer back-to-back overs, especially around the 18th, cost them extra runs. In the chase, Jaiswal had taken 14 off Hazlewood but still went after him, and Riyan Parag, despite a lucky start, kept swinging recklessly and threw away a winning position. These lapses have hurt them in the last three games. Losing crucial moments is what’s costing Rajasthan badly.”
Sanjay Bangar shared his thoughts on the upcoming TATA IPL “Revenge Week” fixture between SRH and CSK:
“I believe CSK will win against SRH. CSK’s spin strength, backed by MSD, will be key, and they’ll ensure there’s assistance for the spinners. The team is evolving, moving away from their earlier pattern with more focus on youngsters. SRH, on the other hand, has been inconsistent.”
