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Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has praised his Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammates Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj ahead of all-important World Test Championship (WTC) final against Rohit Sharma-led side at The Oval starting June 7.
Hazlewood is yet to regain full fitness due to several injuries over last few months that cut-short his Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 stint with RCB. However, the 32-year-old is sure that he will be fit to bowl in the WTC final.
In-form Kohli’s wicket will be important in the big game. Hazlewood will be targeting the prized wicket of former Indian skipper in the mega clash.
"I think it’s probably how hard he works (that stands out). His fitness first of all - and then his skill work and batting and fielding in particular.
"He is always out there (training) first and leaves last … and the intensity he trains at all the time is at such a high level it drags everyone else along for the ride. That can leak on to the other players and improve them as well," Hazlewood told the ICC.
Siraj's IPL form
Hazlewood lauded Siraj for his new-found found in T20 cricket which helped him dominate on RCB's homeground which has small dimensions.
"I was a bit late getting there (to RCB this year), but before then he was on fire,” he said.
"He is up there at the top of the wickets every time, and the economy rate was probably the thing as bowling at Chinnaswamy (RCB's home ground) is impossible sometimes and he was going at six or six-and-a-half an over. His control was great and he is bowling well."
Hazlewood fitness update
Hazlewood who has 51 wickets from 15 Tests against India also provided fitness update.
"My fitness is pretty good and it is just a matter of ticking off every session from here until that date (June 7) basically.
"We will probably have anywhere from three to four more sessions - bat versus ball and then a couple of longer days in the nets as well or centre wicket down in London - so it is just ticking off those last few boxes and pulling up well from every session," he said.
"It was pretty close (to full pace today). I came down for a little bowl yesterday just to loosen up and to get a bit more out of today's session, so it is feeling good. It is always good to get the first one out of the way and when we get to London we will steam in," he added.
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