RCB’s Josh Hazlewood (Image: X)

As Royal Challengers Bangalore prepare to face Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final, they will take confidence from Josh Hazlewood, a player who has made a habit of performing well on the biggest stage.The defending champions are aiming to win back-to-back IPL titles, a feat achieved only by Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Standing in their way is a strong Gujarat Titans side led by Shubman Gill, but RCB will be relieved by the presence of Hazlewood, whose record in T20 finals is nothing short of remarkable.

The man who never lost a final

Hazlewood enters the IPL 2026 final with a perfect record in the T20 title decider. The Australian fast bowler has played in five major T20 tournament finals in international and franchise cricket and has emerged victorious in all five. What’s even more impressive is that he has never gone wicketless in a T20 final.In those five title matches, Hazlewood has taken 10 wickets at an average of 13.9 and an economy rate of 7.1, proving his ability to thrive under sustained pressure. Hazlewood’s first major T20 final success came while representing Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2021 final. Facing Kolkata Knight Riders, the Australian returned figures of 2/29 in four overs, removing Sunil Narine and Nitish Rana at crucial moments. His disciplined spell helped CSK stop KKR from chasing the target and win by 27 runs. This was the first IPL trophy of Hazlewood’s career and the beginning of a remarkable finals streak.Perhaps the best performance of Hazlewood’s career came during the 2021 T20 World Cup final against New Zealand. On the batting-friendly Dubai surface, Hazlewood produced a masterclass in fast bowling, finishing with figures of 3/16 from four overs. He dismissed Glenn Phillips and, most importantly, Kane Williamson, who looked set to take the game away from Australia with a blistering 85. Australia eventually chased down the target to win their first T20 World Cup title, with Hazlewood playing a central role in the victory.

RCB gets a historic title

Four years later, Hazlewood once again demonstrated his ability to perform when the stakes were greatest. In the IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings, the Australian fast bowler took two wickets and was tasked with defending 29 runs in the final over of the match. Despite facing the dangerous Shashank Singh at the crease, Hazlewood maintained his composure and closed out the game, helping RCB secure their first IPL title after a wait of 18 years.Hazlewood’s finals success extends beyond the IPL and international cricket. The fast bowler was also a part of the title-winning campaign with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League. A mixed IPL 2026 campaignDespite his impressive finals record, Hazlewood’s IPL 2026 season has not been entirely easy. The right-arm fast bowler has taken 13 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 35.15 and an economy rate of 9.62. Although those numbers are low by his usual standards, they do not fully reflect his impact.