Chennai Super Kings to be Without Josh Hazlewood for IPL 2021
Hazlewood, who played 3 matches for CSK in IPL 2020, was expected to travel to India on 1 April to join Dhoni & co.
Ace Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood will not be part of IPL 2021 with the Chennai Super Kings after pulling out of the tournament.
Hazlewood, who has been a part of multiple bio-secure bubbles from August 2020 to January this year, wants to remain in prime shape for the international season after the IPL.
Hazlewood, who played only three matches for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2020, was expected to travel to India on 1 April to join MS Dhoni and co.
Hazlewood wasn't a frontline option for the Super Kings last year as they lined up their bowling with domestic options alongside allrounders Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo for the most part.
"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 said 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 on 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.
Incidentally, two of Australia's players - Josh Philippe and Mitchell Marsh - have already opted out of the IPL 2021 season.
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