IPL 2021: Jason Behrendorff replaces Josh Hazlewood at CSK
Chennai Super Kings have roped in Australian fast bowler Jason Behrendorff as a replacement of Josh Hazlewood for the 2021 IPL. The left-arm pacer has played 11 ODIs and seven T20Is in his career so far.
Though the southpaw hasn’t donned the national jersey for two years, he has done well in the Big Bash League – Australia’s premier T20 tournament. In the 2020-21 BBL , Behrendorff picked up 16 wickets in as many games at an economy rate of 7.03.
On the back of his spells, Perth Scorchers made the final where they lost to the Sydney Sixers. Behrendorff also has experience playing in the IPL, having plied his trade for Mumbai Indians (MI) back in 2019. In that season, he picked up five wickets from as many matches. However, he was ruled out of the 2020 edition due to a back injury that called for an immediate surgery.
Jason is all of us right now!
J Behrendorff joins the super lion up for this #Summerof2021 !
Read more : https://t.co/Xe1WU7WWvu#WhistlePodu #Yellove ??
?@ICC pic.twitter.com/qYSjcee932— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 9, 2021
Behrendorff unsold in 2021 auction
In the 2021 IPL auction, the Aussie speedster had set a base price of INR 1 crore. But none of the eight franchises showed any interest in him, including Mumbai and Behrendorff went sold. As luck would have it, Hazlewood opted out of the 14th IPL edition owing to the fatigue caused by bio-bubbles. Instead, he chose to spend time at home with his family for the next two months.
The CSK management admitted they were left in a bit of a soup after Hazlewood’s sudden decision. At one point, it looked like they may not even sign a replacement.
“It is a sudden development and we were not prepared for it. We will look at various options before arriving at a decision. But we have our bases covered. So if the team management feels we don’t need a replacement, we might not seek one,” a senior CSK official told.
The Super Kings are set to start their campaign on Saturday, April 10 against Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
