Josh Hazlewood: Royal Challengers Bengaluru played very well against Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2026 match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB won the toss and chose to bowl first. They completely broke down LSG’s batting order, limiting them to just 146 runs.
RCB made it look easy to chase down 147, winning by five wickets with 29 balls to spare. Virat Kohli’s steady 49 kept the chase going smoothly, so there were no late problems.
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Rasikh Salam’s Dream Spell Fails
Rasikh Salam was by far the best player in the match, taking 4 wickets for 24 runs in four overs. He took important wickets, including some that stopped LSG’s momentum just when they were about to speed up.
His ability to change things up, control the game, and hit at key times made his spell one of the best of the match. Most people, including fans and experts, thought Salam would win the Player of the Match award.
Hazlewood’s Spell Changes the Game
Josh Hazlewood won the award, even though his stats may not have looked as impressive. They were important in shaping the game.
Hazlewood’s disciplined bowling during the power play slowed down LSG’s scoring rate at the start. His tight lines and economical spell kept LSG to one of their lowest powerplay totals of the season, which put immediate pressure on their batting unit.
Why Hazlewood Was Picked Instead of Salam
The Player of the Match choice is often based on more than just numbers. RCB had a strong base because Hazlewood was able to control the game up front on a tricky, two-paced pitch.
Hazlewood’s early breakthroughs and pressure set the tone for the innings, even though Salam’s wickets were very important. This strategic effect probably had an effect on the final choice.
Fans and experts are arguing about
Fans and cricket experts disagreed about the decision, with many saying Salam was unlucky to miss out. Some people even said it was unfair to the young pacer, which shows how, sometimes, a great individual performance can be overshadowed by the bigger picture of the match.
