'MS Dhoni is a pretty similar player to me, calm and relaxed' - Josh Hazlewood excited to play for CSK in IPL 2020

The thirteenth edition of the IPL was initially scheduled to commence from March 29. However, the COVID-19 debacle was the reason behind the indefinite postponement of the tournament. Aiming to host the cash-rich league this year, the BCCI has identified UAE as a viable option. However, the board is yet to make an official announcement yet.

The IPL Governing Council is set to meet on Saturday and take ‘final’ decisions over the commencement of the cash-rich league. The Indian board will also have to seek permission from the government to go ahead with their plans.

With a change in venue as well as the conditions, the IPL franchises will be busy in trying out new combinations on the UAE wickets. In the IPL 2020 auction, Chennai Super Kings, led by MS Dhoni, followed a smart approach yet again as they snapped up few but impactful players. The recent addition– Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood– will now gear up to feature in the Dhoni-led CSK line-up in IPL 2020.

Hazlewood, known for his pace, economy rate and bouncers, can emerge as a game-changer for the Yellow Army in the UAE. He also possesses the ability to have a calm and composed on-field approach.

IPL 2020 is set to commence from September 19 in UAE

Opening up on the prospect of playing with Dhoni for CSK, Hazlewood told WION in a recent interaction, “Again, I am excited! I think he is a pretty similar player to me – very relaxed and calm – and that’s how I play my best cricket, that’s when I enjoy my cricket. Hopefully, we are a good match.”

Josh Hazlewood is yet to prove his worth in the shortest format of the game, with his last T20I game for Australia being in 2016. However, the quick has been a regular face in Australia’s Test and ODI set up. In 51 Tests and 48 ODIs, 29-year-old Hazlewood has scalped 195 and 78 wickets respectively.

Many bowlers have flourished under the leadership of Dhoni and CSK fans will be hopeful of Hazlewood following the same path this year in the IPL. The tournament is set to commence from September 19 and wrap up on November 8 in the UAE.