Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has responded to criticism from former Australian teammate Mitchell Johnson regarding his decision to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 instead of prioritizing preparations for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The WTC final saw Australia lose to South Africa. Johnson's criticism came after Hazlewood played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025, which concluded just a week and a half before the WTC Final. Hazlewood's performance in the WTC final, where he took only two wickets, further fueled Johnson's disapproval.
Johnson had expressed his concerns in a column for The West Australian, stating, "We've seen concerns about Hazlewood's fitness in recent years, and his decision to prioritize returning to the delayed Indian Premier League over his national team preparations raised eyebrows."
Hazlewood, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald ahead of the Test series against the West Indies, addressed Johnson's comments and defended his choice. "I haven't seen any of that, to be honest," Hazlewood said, brushing aside the criticism. "We know what's going on inside our rooms. It seemed far and away the best place to get ready for any type of cricket that was coming up."
Hazlewood cited several reasons for his decision, emphasizing that the IPL provided the best possible preparation for the WTC final. He highlighted the weather conditions in Australia, which disrupted his training schedule. "Sydney, it was raining, and I had literally nowhere to bowl. I got to Brisbane for three or four days, and it was very wet. We were lucky to get on," he explained.
In contrast, the IPL offered intense competition and a chance to bowl in favorable conditions. "I just thought the best place to bowl was India. We were still in the competition, we were going to play semis, and I was going to be there for 10 days. I think it was comfortably the best option," Hazlewood stated.
Hazlewood also emphasized that the high-pressure environment of the IPL provided a level of match fitness that was difficult to replicate in training. "Just getting over there and playing intense competition like that, it's hard to replicate in training," he added.
His participation in the IPL 2025 saw Hazlewood play a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden title. He picked up 22 wickets in 12 matches with an average of 17.55.
Hazlewood's response highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the prioritization of franchise cricket over national duties. While Johnson's criticism reflects concerns about player commitment to Test cricket, Hazlewood's defense underscores the benefits of playing in a high-intensity league like the IPL, particularly in terms of preparation and match fitness. Notably, some reports earlier in the IPL season suggested that Australian players were considering leaving the IPL due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon have both publicly defended themselves in response to Johnson's column. Hazlewood said that he and his teammates are fully aware of the situation and are preparing accordingly. Lyon also dismissed any suggestion of complacency, clarifying that there is no retirement plan in place for the senior bowlers and that internal competition remains fierce.
