Josh Hazlewood’s departure has left a void in CSK’s ranks.
Ahead of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which ended as the basement dwellers last season, have found themselves in some trouble. Australian Josh Hazlewood has withdrawn from the tournament and the three-time champions are scrambling to find his replacement with less than a week left until the start of the league.
The Super Kings had reportedly approached Australian guard Billy Stanlake and England left point guard Reece Topley as Hazlewood’s replacement. However, both have rejected the offers, due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in India.
Problems for CSK
“Many of them have contracts with England county teams and permits are not obtained due to the increasing number of Covid cases. We may have to pick a wild card and we may get one soon enough. But problems persist, ”a source close to development told The Times of India (TOI).
Among the players, Nitish Rana from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Axar Patel from Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) Devdutt Padikkal they have already been victims of the virus. Furthermore, the staff at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai also failed to evade the wrath of the virus.
Amid the troubles, CSK have reason to rejoice after it emerged that Ravindra Jadeja is up and running for the IPL after the injury break. “He hit and pitched into the nets and he looked pretty good at that. It will definitely be part of Game XI, ”added the source.
As for Hazlewood, he was a bit fatigued after spending time in biosecurity bubbles for the past few months. The sprinter is also aware of Australia’s upcoming international matches and wants to keep fit ‘mentally and physically’.
“We also have a great winter ahead of us. The West Indies is going to be a long tour, with Bangladesh (Tour T20) potentially released at the end of that. Then potentially the T20 World Cup leads to the Ashes, so it’s a great 12 months, as it always is with Australia, and I want to give myself the best opportunity to be mentally and physically prepared for that, ”he had said.
