Picture Credit: BCCI/ IPL
In a massive blow to the three-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), two overseas players are likely to miss the second game for the side. Fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Jason Behrendorff won't be available for selection even in their second match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday. CSK haven't got off to an ideal start as they lost the first match to the Delhi Capitals by seven wickets, in a contest that exposed the vulnerabilities of their bowling department.
While the Men in Yellow posted a handsome 188/7 led by Suresh Raina's half-century after being asked to bat first by the Capitals, DC made a mockery of that total chasing it down with 8 balls to spare. Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw produced superb innings at the top of the order to help Delhi off to a flier while chasing and there was no looking back. Among the CSK pacers, Thakur conceded 53 runs in 3.4 overs and picked up 2 wickets. Bravo too picked up a wicket, getting rid of Shaw but none of them looked to threaten the opposition.
Behrendorff was announced as a replacement for Hazlewood
After a poor outing by their bowling unit, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed that Lungi and Behrendorff will be unavailable for the second match. Ngidi is currently serving his mandatory quarantine after returning midway from South Africa’s three-match ODI series against Pakistan. Meanwhile, Behrendorff has replaced Australia’s Josh Hazlewood and will be joining them late.
Hazlewood, earlier, pulled out of IPL 2021, days before its start, citing bubble fatigue as the reason. "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," he had said.