IPL 2021: Would Go With Josh Hazlewood Ahead Of Dwayne Bravo In CSK Playing XI: Aakash Chopra:

Cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra said that Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood should play in Chennai Super Kings (CSK) playing XI.

The second phase of IPL 2021 will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which will resume with CSK taking on arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in the first match in Dubai.

West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo is one of the senior players of the Yellow Brigade and holds vast experience in playing T20 cricket across the globe.

Given the conditions in UAE where the ball is likely to swing, Chopra said that he would prefer Hazlewood ahead of Bravo in the CSK team.

“Dwayne Bravo may have won 15 T20 titles but I would still pick Josh Hazlewood in CSK’s playing XI. I would go with Hazlewood ahead of Bravo because the extra pace is going to prove effective in the UAE,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel. 

Moeen Ali played an efficient role for the team while batting at no.3, a place where veteran player Suresh Raina usually bats. Ali scored 206 runs from six games at an impressive strike rate of 157.25 and also returned five wickets with the ball.

Chopra said that Dhoni will continue to back the England all-rounder as he is performing consistently for the team.

“Moeen Ali will be CSK’s bankable player in the second half of IPL 2021. He is coming in with good international form and has been performing consistently well of late. I am confident that he will do well for CSK again,” Chopra reckoned.

“A good player needs a good captain and Moeen certainly has one in MS Dhoni. The CSK captain will surely back him, utilize him well and make him bat up the order in the second half of the IPL as well,” he added. 

CSK had a devastating season last year as for the first time in the IPL history they failed to qualify for the playoffs and finished at seventh place in the group stage.

Chopra applauded CSK for their remarkable turnaround in the first leg of IPL 2021. CSK are second on the points table, having won five of their seven matches.

“CSK struggled last season but they changed their brand of cricket in the first half of IPL 2021 and played an attacking game. Moeen Ali, Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad shone with the bat. And Ravindra Jadeja – who hits 37 runs in an over? Deepak Chahar was also among the wickets,” Chopra mentioned.

“Overall, CSK were unbelievable in the first half. This team was designed to do well in Chennai. Mumbai was never going to be their favourite venue. But they played really well. CSK have already won five games, so if they win three more, they should qualify for the playoffs,” he signed off.

CSK will play against MI on September 19 at the Dubai International stadium.

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