Royal Challengers Bengaluru head into the IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans with a particular kind of reassurance: Josh Hazlewood has developed a reputation for thriving when the match is at its tightest. For RCB, the objective is clear—lift the trophy again and turn this season into a successful defence—something only Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have managed in the league’s history. Gujarat Titans, captained in spirit and direction by Shubman Gill, will be a stern test, but Bengaluru’s camp will still be encouraged by Hazlewood’s record in T20 championship games, which stands out as almost peerless.
The bowler who brings calm to finals
Hazlewood arrives at the IPL 2026 final with a flawless track record in T20 title deciders. Across five major T20 finals—spanning both international competitions and franchise clashes—the Australian fast bowler has won every time he has reached the summit. Just as notable is that he has never been the type of bowler who goes missing in the biggest over; in each of those finals, he has taken at least one wicket, underlining his knack for finding impact at the most demanding moments.
Across those five championship matches, Hazlewood has finished with 10 wickets at an average of 13.9, while keeping things tight with an economy rate of 7.1. The numbers reflect effectiveness, but the pattern also suggests temperament. His first T20 final win came in the IPL 2021 final, where he played for Chennai Super Kings. Against Kolkata Knight Riders, Hazlewood produced a sharp spell of 2/29 from four overs, striking at crucial times by dismissing Sunil Narine and Nitish Rana. That controlled burst played a key role in CSK limiting KKR’s chase, and Bengaluru will remember that it was the start of a finals run that would define Hazlewood’s reputation in the format.
One of the finest displays of his career arrived soon after, in the 2021 T20 World Cup final versus New Zealand. On a surface that offered assistance to batters, Hazlewood delivered a fast-bowling masterclass, ending with figures of 3/16 in his four overs. He removed Glenn Phillips and, perhaps most importantly, dismissed Kane Williamson—an exit that stopped New Zealand from fully taking control after Williamson had looked set to tilt the match with an 85. Australia chased the target and lifted their maiden T20 World Cup title, with Hazlewood at the centre of the decisive phase.
From IPL glory to another title assignment
Four years later, Hazlewood’s ability to deliver under pressure returned in the IPL 2025 final. Facing Punjab Kings, the Australian speedster took two wickets and was given the responsibility of defending 29 runs in the final over. With Shashank Singh threatening at the crease, Hazlewood held his nerve and completed the job, enabling RCB to claim their first IPL title after an 18-year wait. That finish reinforced why his presence matters so much in games where every ball carries extra weight.
His finals success is not limited to IPL or international cricket alone. Hazlewood has also been part of Big Bash League title-winning campaigns with the Sydney Sixers, adding another layer to his record of stepping up when trophies are on the line.
Even with that standout history, Hazlewood’s IPL 2026 campaign has not been perfectly smooth. In the season so far, the right-arm pacer has taken 13 wickets in 12 matches, averaging 35.15 while maintaining an economy rate of 9.62. Those statistics sit below the standards he is known for, but they may not capture the full picture of his influence—especially in a format where wickets are only one part of the story and pressure created in spells can shape the match even when the numbers look different.
With the IPL 2026 final set to be contested between RCB and GT, attention will naturally intensify on the duel between RCB’s desire to defend the crown and Gujarat’s push under Gill’s leadership. Hazlewood’s history in final scenarios will be one of the key talking points, as Bengaluru look to turn big-game experience into another trophy moment.
