Josh Hazlewood Ruled Out of T20 World Cup: Injury & Future

Few things rattle a cricket fan like an injury update for a favourite fast bowler, and Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after struggling to recover from a hamstring injury and subsequent Achilles issues.

Full Name: Josh Reginald Hazlewood · Born: 8 January 1991 (age 34) · Role: Bowler (right-arm fast-medium) · Test Wickets: 275 · ODI Wickets: 110 · T20I Wickets: 66

Eight career highlights, one pattern: Hazlewood has been Australia’s most consistent pace bowler across formats for over a decade.

What happened to Josh Hazlewood?

Australia’s pace ace ruled out of T20 World Cup

On 6 February 2026, ABC News (Australian public broadcaster) reported that Hazlewood would miss the entire 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The tournament is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka (ICC Cricket (governing body)). The decision followed a hamstring injury sustained in the final Sheffield Shield match before the Ashes, compounded by Achilles trouble during his attempted comeback (ICC Cricket (governing body)).

• Selector Tony Dodemaide said Australia had hoped Hazlewood would be fit for the Super Eights stage but accelerating recovery carried too much risk (ICC Cricket (governing body)).
• Hazlewood had not bowled in a competitive match since November 2025 (Olympics.com (sports coverage)).

Current injury status and recovery timeline

No official return date has been set. The ICC Cricket (governing body) confirmed that the national selectors would not name an immediate replacement, leaving the door open for a possible late call-up that ultimately did not materialise.

Will Hazlewood play IPL in 2026?

Hazlewood’s IPL performance history

Hazlewood’s last IPL stint was with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2024. His 2025 T20 numbers — 12 wickets at an economy of 7.37, including 8 powerplay wickets at 6.72 (ESPNcricinfo (specialist cricket journalism)) — underline his value in the shortest format. Whether he will be retained by RCB or enter the mega auction depends entirely on his fitness clearance.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and other team affiliations

• 2020: Bought by Chennai Super Kings in auction (ESPNcricinfo (specialist cricket journalism)).
• 2021: Withdrew from the season citing bubble fatigue (reported by multiple outlets).
• 2022-2024: Played for RCB.

The implication: If Hazlewood regains full fitness by the 2026 IPL auction, his powerplay economy and experience make him an attractive prospect. But with no match practice since November 2025, franchises will weigh his injury history heavily.

When did Josh Hazlewood get married?

Who is Josh Hazlewood’s wife?

Hazlewood keeps his personal life exceptionally private. No confirmed public records, interviews, or verified social media posts indicate that he is married or has a spouse. Major cricket databases such as ESPNcricinfo (specialist cricket journalism) list no marital information, and searches across trusted sources return no concrete details.

Wedding details and personal life privacy

This question ranks highly among fan queries, but the answer remains unknown. The lack of public information is itself a fact: Hazlewood has not shared any relationship status, and no reputable outlet has reported a marriage. The trade-off: fans will have to respect his privacy until or unless he chooses to disclose.

Is Josh Hazlewood a good bowler or not?

Bowling statistics across formats

Numbers tell the story.

• Test: 275 wickets at an average under 27.
• ODI: 110 wickets at an economy under 5.0.
• T20I: 66 wickets at an economy under 8.0.
• 2025 T20 (all comps): 12 wickets, economy 7.37, powerplay economy 6.72 (ESPNcricinfo (specialist cricket journalism)).

Comparison with other Australian fast bowlers

When fit, Hazlewood’s accuracy is unmatched in the current Australian setup. The catch: his injury record now threatens to erode that edge. The 2026 World Cup absence means Australia will field a pace attack without Hazlewood, Cummins, or Starc for the first time since the 2009 Champions Trophy, as noted by ESPNcricinfo (specialist cricket journalism).

Why did CSK leave Hazlewood?

Josh Hazlewood’s IPL journey: CSK, RCB, and other stints

Hazlewood was bought by Chennai Super Kings at the 2020 auction. He played one season before withdrawing from the 2021 edition, ESPNcricinfo (specialist cricket journalism) reported, citing bubble fatigue and personal reasons. CSK did not retain him, and he entered the 2022 mega auction, where RCB secured his services. The pattern: Hazlewood has never stayed with one IPL team for more than two consecutive seasons, often due to availability conflicts rather than performance.

Reasons for withdrawal from IPL 2021

• Bubble fatigue and mental health considerations (widely reported).
• Focus on international commitments.

What this means: CSK’s decision was largely driven by Hazlewood’s own choice to prioritise his well-being over a franchise stint — not a lack of form.

For Australian cricket fans and IPL franchises alike, the next six months will define Hazlewood’s legacy over the final stretch of his career. If his body cooperates, his powerplay economy and Test record still put him among the best in the world. If not, the 2026 T20 World Cup will go down as the tournament where Australia’s pace depth finally cracked. The choice for team management is clear: manage his workload ruthlessly, or risk losing one of the most accurate bowlers the country has produced.

His absence from the tournament comes amid ongoing injury troubles that have also led to his release from the Indian Premier League franchise, as detailed in this update on ongoing injury troubles.

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