Having helped Bengaluru become only the third franchise in league history to retain the title, Hazlewood said this year's triumph felt different from the breakthrough success of 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right up there. I think obviously a little bit more relaxed within the group this year. We sort of got the monkey off the back last year in terms of a long wait for that first win,\u201d the pacer said after the win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
According to the Australian quick, the defending champions never appeared rattled throughout the campaign and consistently found match-winners in crucial moments.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut I think the group just felt calm and composed throughout the whole tournament, really. Someone stepped up when they needed to be. I think we had, again, like 10 Man of the Match awards. So amazing depth in the squad. Anyone who came in did a great job and the bowling group is pretty special,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hazlewood reserved special praise for fellow pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose consistency with the new ball helped shape RCB's title-winning season. The veteran Indian seamer finished as the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker with 28 scalps. \u201cI can\u2019t remember a game where he went for over 35 runs. In this day and age, it\u2019s unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hazlewood said Bhuvneshwar's ability to strike early regularly eased the burden on the rest of the attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe got wickets up front in nearly every game we played and just took the heat off, I think, the rest of us. We could relax and, you know, we were bowling at numbers four and five in the powerplay. So it\u2019s pretty nice,\u201d the Aussie quick said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 35-year-old also highlighted the role of the franchise's management and support staff in building a winning environment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYeah, I think the franchise has been put together beautifully. You know, not just the players, but I think the support staff as well. Again, it\u2019s a nice, relaxed atmosphere to play your best, to try and play your best cricket in and perform,\u201d the pace ace stated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Hazlewood, the strongest quality within the squad is the bond shared by the group.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYeah, I think the franchise has been put together beautifully. You know, not just the players, but I think the support staff as well. Again, it\u2019s a nice, relaxed atmosphere to play your best, to try and play your best cricket in and perform,\u201d the pace ace stated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
And when asked whether RCB can chase a third consecutive title in 2027, a feat that no team has ever achieved in the tournament\u2019s history, Hazlewood's answer was brief and confident. \u201cYeah, I can\u2019t see why not. Yeah, absolutely,\u201d he opined.<\/p>\r\n\r\n