Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has said that Josh Hazlewood’s, who pulled out of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), absence is not going to be a big loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as the side have many others in the squad to fill the void.
Significantly, Australia pacer Hazlewood earlier in the day had decided to withdraw from the upcoming season citing bubble fatigue.
Taking to twitter, Hogg said that the Yellow Brigade has South African pacer Lungi Ngidi who is well capable to replace Hazlewood.
“CSK had a brilliant bowling lineup with Hazlewood in it, but one man doesn’t make a team, Ngidi will fill that void with the Australian pulling out. #CSK looking fairly strong this year. #IPL2021,” Hogg tweeted.
Earlier on Thursday, Hazlewood was set to depart for India along with other Australia’s IPL-bound players on 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.
The MS Dhoni-led CSK will begin their IPL 2021 campaign against Delhi Capitals on April 10 in Mumbai.