Why Did Hazlewood Miss Out? RCB's Strategy Against LSG in IPL 2025

Synopsis
In a thrilling IPL 2025 match, stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma of RCB won the toss and chose to bowl against LSG. With significant changes in the lineup, will RCB secure a crucial victory to advance in the tournament? This article dives into the match details, strategies, and key player insights.
Key Takeaways
- RCB's decision to bowl first indicates confidence in their bowling attack.
- Jitesh Sharma leads RCB in a crucial match against LSG.
- Absence of Hazlewood raises questions but provides opportunities for other players.
- Winning is essential for RCB to secure a favorable playoff position.
- LSG aims to maintain their fearless approach under Rishabh Pant's leadership.
Lucknow, May 27 (NationPress) The Royal Challengers Bengaluru stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Lucknow Super Giants in Match 70 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
RCB has made two adjustments in their playing XI, with regular captain Rajat Patidar remaining on the bench and expected to enter as an Impact Sub. Despite recovering from his injury, Josh Hazlewood has been left out; Liam Livingstone takes the place of Tim David, and Nuwan Thushara replaces Lungi Ngidi.
LSG's captain Rishabh Pant stated they will maintain a strategy of playing “fearless cricket”. They also made two changes, bringing in Matthew Breetzke and Digvesh Rathi into the lineup.
The pressure is on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to secure a victory and aim for a top-two finish, which would ensure their place in Qualifier 1 and provide another opportunity to contend for the title through the Eliminator match, should they face any setbacks.
Playing XIs:
Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant (wk, capt), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Breetzke, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, William O'Rourke
Impact Substitutes: Yuvraj Chaudhary, Arshin Kulkarni, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma
Impact Substitutes: Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage