Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons Royal Challengers Bengaluru doesn’t have an ideal replacement for Josh Hazlewood. Chopra said neither Jacob Duffy nor Nuwan Thushara are perfect replacement for the Australian pacer.

Hazlewood is currently recovering from his injury, and he is all set to miss the initial phase of IPL 2026 for RCB. The lanky pacer had played an instrumental role in taking RCB to glory in IPL 2025 as he scalped 22 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 17.54 and an economy rate of 8.77.

“It’s a good name. Nuwan Thushara is also a good name, but they are not Josh Hazlewood. The only one like Josh Hazlewood is Josh Hazlewood. If you are an RCB fan, you might be displeased by what I say, and say that I am nitpicking, and that Duffy and Thushara are very good,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Despite the presence of Lungi Ngidi, Chopra reckons RCB’s bowling lost its penetration when Hazlewood missed a few games in IPL 2025.

“I am saying they are very good, but there is only one Josh Hazlewood. You even had Lungi Ngidi’s services last year, but the bowling used to become half when Hazlewood wasn’t there. You saw the standard suddenly rise when Hazlewood was there. So that difference will be there,” he observed.

In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Chopra shed light on the overseas combination that RCB can field in the initial phase of IPL 2026.

“What can they do? One way is to play Duffy or Thushara. So Phil Salt at the top, Tim David in the middle, Romario Shepherd, and then one of the overseas fast bowlers, or else you can play Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Tim David and Romario Shepherd. This could also be an option,” he said.

RCB will begin their IPL defense against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru on 28th March.