IPL 2021: CSK pacer Josh Hazlewood pulls out of the season; becomes the third Aussie to do so

Josh Hazlewood, the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) fast bowler, has opted out of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to constant “bubbles and quarantines” over the last year or so. The speedster made his IPL debut in 2020 and picked up only one wicket in the three games he was a part of. MS Dhoni and Co had brought him at his base price of INR 2 crore back in December 2019.

After playing in all three formats during India’s tour of Australia, the 30-year-old is currently a part of the New South Wales’ setup in Australia’s domestic one-day competition. Keeping in mind his workload in the upcoming months, the Tamworth-born Hazlewood pulled out of the IPL in order to spend quality time with his family.

Josh Hazlewood wants to be ‘mentally and physically’ fit for international assignments

“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,” Hazlewood was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au.

“We’ve got a big winter ahead too. The West Indies is going to be a long tour, with Bangladesh (T20 tour) potentially thrown at 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,” he added.

Though Hazlewood won’t be a part of their setup, CSK have the likes of Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi, Deepak Chahar, Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo in their fast-bowling department. The Super Kings’ first game is against Delhi Capitals (DC), led by Rishabh Pant, on April 10 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

CSK couldn’t make the IPL playoffs last time around and were knocked out after a string of losses in the first round. Apart from Hazlewood, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) Josh Philippe and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) Mitchell Marsh have also pulled out of the tournament.