'He Really Pushes You': Josh Hazlewood Reveals How Training Becomes A Battle Alongside Kohli, Lauds Virat's Aura

Indian Premier League: Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood revealed how training has become a battle alongside talisman batter Virat Kohli in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Bengaluru-based franchise will lock horns against the Chennai Super Kings in their upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 28.

Hazlewood joined the Bengaluru-based franchise for a whopping amount of Rs. 12.5 crore in the IPL 2025 mega-auction.

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He definitely has that aura about him: Josh Hazlewood on Virat Kohli

Speaking in the recent video of RCB Bold Diaries, Hazlewood said that seeing Kohli at the training session motivates one player even though they are feeling a bit flat.

"You might show up to training feeling a bit flat, just going through the motions. But when you look down and see him 22 yards away, it really kicks you into gear. Training becomes a battle, especially in the middle. He definitely has that aura about him,” Hazlewood said on RCB Bold Diaries.

The Australian fast bowler added that he fully respects what the Indian batter has done in the game.

“I fully respect what he's done in the game and what he's still doing now. He's one of those players who comes at you and plays his shots, which is always nice because it helps move the scoreboard along. He’s a huge wicket for us in any format. He’s scored a lot of hundreds against us in all formats, so in the nets, he really pushes you. By the time you finish, you feel ready for the game,” he added.

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Virat Kohli is the highest run scorer in the history of IPL. The 36-year-old has scored 8063 runs from 253 IPL matches at a strike rate of 132.16. In IPL 2024, the RCB loyalist has scored 741 runs from 15 matches at a strike rate of 154.70.

The Bengaluru-based franchise started their IPL 2025 runs with a seven-wicket triumph over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens.