Veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, who plays for Chennai Super Kings, withdrew from the Indian Premier League next season for personal reasons. The development was on the expected lines, as the spinner had not yet joined the team in UAE.
“I retired from IPL for personal reasons,” Harbhajan Singh told PTI.
Harbhajan became the second CSK cricketer after former India batsman Suresh Raina to withdraw from the 13th IPL for personal reasons.
The 40-year-old, who has been a part of CSK for the past two years, is currently in Jalandhar, Punjab with his family and asked for privacy. The IPL begins on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates after being moved out of India due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
(Total IPL Coverage 2020)
“I have informed CSK management of my decision to withdraw from this year’s IPL. I have decided to take a break for personal reasons in these difficult times. I hope everyone respects my need for privacy, ”said Harbhajan.
The veteran off-spinner is the third-largest IPL wicket catcher with 150 scalps in 160 games. After playing his trade with the Mumbai Indians for 10 seasons, Harbhajan was attacked by CSK prior to the 2018 IPL.
Meanwhile, the CSK team, barring the two players who tested positive for coronavirus last week, is likely to train starting Friday in Dubai.
Deepak Chahar was one of two players to test positive last week, and overall 13 members of the CSK contingent were infected with the deadly virus, raising safety concerns ahead of the IPL that begins here on September 19.
(With PTI inputs)
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