In a big blow to three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has decided to pull out himself from the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Hazlewood was set to depart for India along with other Australia’s IPL-bound players on Thursday however, he decided to give this year’s IPL season a miss in order to spend some time with his family and be mentally fit for the long season ahead.
“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. 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,” Hazlewood was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au quoted.
“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.
Earlier on Wednesday, SunRisers Hyderabad all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had also pulled out of this year’s IPL and the franchise later named England batsman Jason Roy as his replacement.
The MS Dhoni-led CSK will begin their IPL 2021 campaign against Delhi Capitals on April 10 in Mumbai.