By Admin 
Former Australia cricketer Mitchell Johnson has targeted Josh Hazlewood for playing playoff matches for the RCB team in the IPL. His statement came after losing the World Test Championship of Australia cricket team. South Africa defeated defending champions Australia by 5 wickets in the final to win their second ICC title after 27 years. Johnson believes that Hazlewood gave priority to RCB before his national team.
Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Punjab Kings in the playoff qualifier-1 and made it to the finals and then won their first IPL title by defeating this team in the final. Josh Hazlewood proved to be a star bowler for the team, who returned to India from Australia, particularly for the playoffs. & Nbsp;
India Pakistan was postponed in the middle of IPL 2025 amid tension, after which it started again from 17 May. It was difficult for the players of South Africa and Australia to return as they had to play the World Test Championship Final in England. Pat Cummins, including Hazlewood, was part of the WTC final team but decided to return to India for the remaining IPL matches. While South Africa’s players returned but returned to their national team before the playoffs.
Mitchell Johnson raised questions
Johnson said, "Josh Hazlewood has been struggling with fitness problems for some time, but he decided to return to the IPL instead of the national team. This raises a big question on the preparations for the World Test Championship final."
Josh Hazlewood took 15 overs in the first innings, and he got only 1 wicket. Cummins took 6 wickets in this innings. She got the same wicket in the second innings of South Africa, when Africa was standing on the threshold of victory and she wanted only 6 runs. In this innings, Hazlewood conceded 58 runs in 19 overs.
Talking about Hazlewood’s performance in IPL, he took 22 wickets in 12 matches, he was the highest bowler for RCB and the third wicket in the league.
Stark, also targeted on Cummins
He said, "Our successful ‘Big Four’ bowling attack by Mitchell Starc, Hazelwood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Leone cannot be considered confirmed in the future. If senior players remain only till retirement after the Ashes, then the question arises whether this is the right mindset. It is important that we decide further keeping the future in mind. Show confidence in choosing new players."
Johnson further said, "Players like Sam Constas, Josh English and Scott Bolland think differently. Of course, he should be 36 years old, but every time he gets a chance, he is eager to prove himself. I am not against older players, with whom we have achieved a lot. But some difficult decisions have to be taken. This will be the right opportunity in the series against the West Indies."