Australian fast bowler Jason Behrendorff has signed up with Chennai Super Kings as a replacement for compatriot Josh Hazlewood for IPL 2021.
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have named left-arm seamer Jason Behrendorff as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood, who made his IPL debut in 2020 in UAE, pulled out of the IPL 2021 season citing bubble fatigue and COVID concerns as reasons.
Josh Hazlewood was supposed to be one of the trump cards for the CSK team in this upcoming IPL 2021 tournament, however, he cited Australia’s upcoming winter season and bubble fatigue as reasons for him opting out of the IPL 14. Later he revealed that along with the said reasons, the current rise of COVID-19 cases in India played a role in him not playing in this season’s IPL.
It’s Been A Long 10 Months In Bubbles And Quarantine So I Decided To Have A Rest From Cricket: Josh Hazlewood
Hazlewood was to depart with other Australia’s IPL-bound players and join CSK but decided to skip the cash-rich league, which will start on April 9 and go on till May 30, and spend time at home for the next two months. He had played 3 IPL matches in IPL 2020.
The left-arm quick has featured in 11 ODIs and seven T20Is so far. This is Behrendorff’s second IPL team, having represented Mumbai Indians in 2019 where he played five matches and picked as many wickets.
Chennai Super Kings commence their IPL 2021 campaign with a match against Delhi Capitals on April 10, 2021 at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium.