IPL 2021: Josh Hazlewood To Skip The 14th Edition; Chennai Super Kings Yet To Name A Replacement

Australia and Chennai Super Kings seamer Josh Hazlewood became the third player from the country to pull out of IPL 2021. With life in the bio-bubbles proving challenging to withstand, most cricketers have expressed concerns regarding the same. Josh Hazlewood, who has become a key part of Australia’s plans across formats, has decided to skip the 14th edition of IPL, keeping in mind the upcoming international calendar.

Earlier, SunRisers Hyderabad’s Mitchell Marsh and Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Josh Philippe also decided to skip the marquee T20 league, citing personal reasons. While Philippe announced his decision much before, Marsh and Hazlewood choosing to opt out at the eleventh hour would have indeed surprised the respective franchises. Nevertheless, the SunRisers were fortunate enough to avail of Jason Roy’s services as a replacement.

Josh Hazlewood joined the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2020 auction as the yellow army secured his services for INR 2 crores. The New South Wales played in three matches only and while his economy rate was 6.40, he managed only one wicket. Despite that, the three-time champions retained him for the subsequent edition.

That’s the decision I’ve made, and it sits pretty well with me: Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood pointed out that he has spent a long time in different bubbles and quarantines; hence, he decided to spend more time with his family. The 30-year old remarked that Australia have a long winter ahead of them as they are due to visit the West Indies and Bangladesh. Furthermore, with the T20 World Cup and Ashes looming, he wants to give himself the best chance of being mentally and physically ready for all the challenges and that the decision made stands justified.

“It’s been a long 10 months in bubbles and quarantine at different times, so I decided to have a rest from cricket and spend some time at home and in Australia in the next two months. We’ve got a big winter ahead too. The West Indies is going to be a long tour, with Bangladesh (T20 tour) potentially thrown on the end of that. Then potentially the T20 World Cup leading into the Ashes, so it’s a big 12 months, as it always is with Australia, and I want to give myself the best chance to be mentally and physically ready for that. That’s the decision I’ve made, and it sits pretty well with me,” Hazlewood said as quoted by cricket.com.au.

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