Former India goalkeeper Deep Dasgupta feels off-roader Jalaj Saxena could be a potential Harbhajan Singh at Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2020. Harbhajan decided to withdraw from the tournament on Friday citing personal reasons.
Jalaj Saxena is a 33-year-old right-hander and off-spin bowler who has played 123 first-class games in which he has scored 6,334 runs at 35.98 with 14 hundreds and 31 fifty.
He has also chosen 347 FC wickets in 27.17 with 21 sets from five wickets. He has also played 54 T20s to date, scoring 633 runs and choosing 49 wickets.
Saxena was bought by Delhi Capitals in the 2019 auction at its base price of Rs 20 lakh, but it was launched before this season. She has also played for teams such as Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
“I think Jalaj Saxena deserves a spot, it’s a pretty good off-roader. I think they could look at him, he’s a very good choice for Bhajji’s replacement, ”Deep Dasgupta told ESPNCricinfo.
“He’s someone who has a lot of experience not only in red ball cricket, but also in white ball cricket, he’s been around for a while.”
Dasgupta said that the Chennai Super Kings will miss out on Harbhajan’s experience this season.
“Yeah, it wasn’t a regularity, he didn’t play every game last season, but having said that, when you have someone as experienced as Harbhajan and we’re talking about all those 50+ games that will be played at just 3 venues.
“In the second half of the tournament, those pitches will get tired, there will be crockery and tare, so it will definitely help the spinners. From the experience side, yes (you will be missed) and of course it was just out of line. He didn’t play much after last season, but with someone from that experience you have to support him and that’s what CSK has done. So they will miss him, maybe not too much, but a little bit, ”Dasgupta said.
Harbhajan is the second CSK player to miss the IPL this season after Vice Captain Suresh Raina, who returned home from Dubai last week for personal reasons.
The news of Raina came just after 13 members of the franchise, including fast pitcher Deepak Chahar and hitter Ruturaj Gaikwad, tested positive for coronavirus.
