IPL 2021: CSK Sign Jason Behrendorff As Replacement For Josh Hazlewood

Chennai Super Kings have signed Australian pacer Jason Behrendorff as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood for the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting today. Behrendorff comes in for Hazlewood, who pulled out of this year's tournament earlier in the month to spend time with his family. This will be Behrendorff's second stint in IPL cricket, having represented Mumbai Indians in 2019 where he played five matches and picked as many wickets. Left-arm quick Behrendorff has featured in 11 ODIs and seven T20Is so far for Australia.

NEWS: @ChennaiIPL sign Jason Behrendorff as replacement for Josh Hazlewood. @Vivo_India #VIVOIPL

More details https://t.co/XIZSzQZqSb pic.twitter.com/8lRptsIv5c

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 9, 2021

Earlier, Hazlewood was set to depart for India with Australia's IPL-bound players, but decided to give it a miss in order to spend some time with his family. Talking to cricket.com.au, he was quoted as saying, "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."

"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," Hazlewood added that this year's Ashes, West Indies and a possible Bangladesh tour along with the T20 WC in India were crucial factors that prompted him to take this decision.

Chennai Super Kings will kick-start their campaign with a match against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, April 10.

Topics mentioned in this article

Chennai Super Kings Jason Behrendorff Josh Hazlewood IPL 2021 Cricket