Things are not getting any better for Chennai Super Kings as veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has decided to pull out of IPL 2020. Owning to personal reasons, the veteran off-spinner has decided not to travel to UAE for IPL 2020. Earlier star batsman Suresh Raina had also pulled out of upcoming IPL season due to personal reasons.
Harbhajan would have been a solid performer and integral part for CSK considering the turning pitches in the UAE. But now with IPL just under 3 weeks away, the CSK franchise will again put their thinking caps own to find a replacement for Harbhajan.
The off-spinner would have been a sure-shot starter for the CSK in the IPL so promptly they will have to find a player that is suitable to replace Harbhajan. We try to dig in and find out three possible replacements for Harbhajan Singh for IPL 2020.
Here are 3 players who can replace Harbhajan Singh
3. KC Cariappa
The leg-spinner from Bengaluru can absolutely be an option for the CSK franchise in the UAE. KC Cariappa has previously played for the Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and is not a stranger to the big stage.
The somewhat mystery spinner has various tricks up his sleeve which can help in picks crucial wickets.
Cariappa remained unsold in the IPL auction at his base price of INR 20 Lakhs. He will not at all be a bad replacement for Harbhajan and CSK can surely look to rope him in ahead of the much anticipated IPL 2020 season.
2. Hayden Walsh Jr.
The West Indian Hayden Walsh Jr. can also be on the plane to the UAE for the upcoming IPL. The leg-spinner last year was impressive during the T20I series in India. He also has experience of playing in the CPL where the pitches will be somewhat similar to what everyone is expecting in the UAE.
Leg spinners like Walsh are always an asset in T20 cricket as they wicket-takers in any stage of the game. The 28-year-old was unsold in the IPL auction last year at his base price of INR 50 Lakhs.
Walsh can be a real consistent performer for CSK if the franchise decides to bank on him as he usually as an impressive economy rate and also picks big wickets regularly. Hayden Walsh can be a serious contender among players who can replace Harbhajan Singh.
1. Yusuf Pathan
It has to be none other than Yusuf Pathan at the number 1 spot to replace Harbhajan. Pathan is a proven performer in IPL that has time and time again contributed with both bat and ball.
Also with Raina out of IPL 2020, CSK can look to bat Yusuf in the top order. Dhoni has previously captained Pathan for India and he also knows that he is very underrated as an off-spinner. Pathan surprisingly in the IPL auction remained unsold at his base price of Rs. 1 crore.
On any given day he can still prove to be a match-winner as he is competent of scoring against spinners which will be notable in the upcoming IPL season. The 37-year-old so far in his 174 IPL matches has scored 3204 at an impressive average of 143.