Harbhajan Singh’s decision to exit from IPL 2020 citing personal reasons has initiated debate of replacement for the veteran off-spinner in the Chennai Super Kings squad. CSK were reluctant to decide upon Suresh Raina’s replacement. Raina too had decided to give IPL 2020 a miss due to personal reasons. But the case might vary as Chennai franchise can look ahead to pick up an off-spinner to replace Harbhajan Singh.
Harbhajan has enormous experience as he had played 160 matches where he snared150 wickets averaging 26.45. He has even picked up one five-wicket haul and one four-wicket in IPL.
Deep Dasgupta thinks about Jalaj Saxena as Harbhajan Singh’s replacement:
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta believes the franchise should opt for all-rounder Jalaj Saxena as his replacement.
“I think Jalaj Saxena deserves a place, he’s a good enough all-rounder. I think they might look at him, he’s a very good option for Bhajji’s replacement,” Deep Dasgupta told ESPNCricinfo.
Jalaj Saxena has enough expertise when it comes Indian domestic cricket besides having a good record as an all-rounder across formats. In 54 T20 matches, Jalaj Saxena has bagged 49 wickets at an economy rate of 6.92. The off-spinner, who also bats at the top of the order, has 633 runs to his name in T20s.
Saxena was a member of the Delhi Capitals squad in IPL 2019. but was released by the franchise ahead of this season. CSK does not have another off-spinning option in their squad apart from part-timer Kedar Jadhav. However, it may just boost his chances to replace the veteran Harbhajan Singh as CSK may go-ahead for the all-rounder.
“He’s someone who has got a lot of experience not just in red ball cricket but also in white ball cricket he’s been around for a while,” said Dasgupta.
Jalaj Saxena has played 119 First-class and 93 List A matches where he has scored 14 and three centuries besides, picking up 326 and 108 wickets respectively. His bowling averages in those matches are less than 30 while his batting average is 37.01 in multi-day format and 25.8 in List A.
The promising cricketer has been previously in Mumbai Indians squad in 2013/2014, Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in 2015 and Delhi Capitals squad in 2019. But he did not play a single match in IPL.
Harbhajan Singh Will Be Missed By CSK: Deep Dasgupta
Speaking about the veteran Harbhajan Singh’s absence in the CSK squad, Deep Dasgupta said, the MS Dhoni-led side will definitely miss the experience of the star off-spinner.
“Yes, he wasn‘t a regularity, didn’t play all the games last season but having said that when you’ve got someone as experienced as Harbhajan and we’re talking about all those 50 plus matches being played on only 3 venues,” Dasgupta said.
“In the 2nd half of the tournament, those pitches will get tired, there will ware and tare so it will definitely help the spinners. From the experience part, yes (they will miss him), and of course he was only off-spinner.
“He didn’t play much after last season but with someone of that experience, you have to back them and that’s what CSK has done. So they will miss him, maybe not too much but a bit for sure,” he concluded
Harbhajan Singh is the third-highest wicket-taker in the IPL history with 150 scalps to his name, was roped in by CSK ahead of IPL 2018 at the base price of Rs two crore.
Harbhajan Singh had previously turned out for Mumbai Indians from 2008 to 2017. Despite his absence, CSK had three front-line spinners in leg-spinner South African Imran Tahir, left-armer New Zealander Mitchell Santner and seasoned leg- spinner — Piyush Chawla of India.