Big blow to RCB, Hazlewood will not play in the first 7 matches

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood will miss the first leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to an ankle injury. Hazlewood will arrive in India on April 14 but he will be able to regain full fitness only by the third week of the month.In such a situation, the team will have to take the field without him in the first seven matches. His Australian teammate Glenn Maxwell is doubtful for RCB’s opening match against Mumbai Indians on April 2 in Bengaluru. He has recovered from a fractured leg but has not been able to regain match fitness.”Everything is going according to plan so I will go on the 14th (April) depending on how the next two weeks go for me,” Hazlewood told The Age.He said, “I may not be ready to play the match at that time but hopefully after reaching there, I will regain full fitness within a week.”Hazlewood had to be ruled out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India due to this injury. He will look to strengthen his preparation for the Ashes through the IPL. The 32-year-old fast bowler, however, is yet to receive a medical clearance from Cricket Australia to leave for India.