Is Harbhajan Singh playing the IPL 2020?
Harbhajan Singh is an Indian international cricketer who plays all forms of cricket. A specialist spin bowler, he has the second-highest number of Test wickets taken by an off spinner. He is the former captain of IPL team Mumbai Indians and Punjab for the 2012–13 Ranji Trophy season. Harbhajan Singh has aged like a fine wine. Once the flag-bearer of Indian spin bowling, the veteran is still eyeing to make a return for the national team, after having played his last international match in 2016.
The vastly experienced 40-year old Harbhajan has 417 Test wickets, 269 ODI scalps and 235 victims in the Twenty20 format. Despite the passage of time he has kept himself fit and ready for any new challenge that comes his way. He had a productive last season with CSK in the IPL with 16 wickets from 11 matches at a creditable economy rate of 7.09. The off-spinner has been with the Chennai team for the past two years, after having played and performed for the Mumbai Indians before that.
He has played 160 matches in the IPL, picking up 150 wickets at an average of 26.44, with the best bowling figures of five for 18. He has picked up seven wickets in his last five IPL appearances for CSK. When asked about his retirement plans, the veteran said that he might take a call on his retirement after the IPL 2020.
Harbhajan's success has been greatly in the IPL where he played a crucial part in the success of the Mumbai franchise who have won the title thrice. He was a regular member of the team since 2008 and even captained the side. He picked up as many as 24 wickets in the 2013 season and played a vital role in Mumbai's maiden title-winning season. He was also very handy with the bat, scoring a 24-ball 64 against Kings XI Punjab in 2015, a match he tried to win after the top-order was blown away. After the Mumbai Indians decided to relieve him, the Super Kings picked Singh in the 2018 auction. He was part of the side when the Super Kings won the title in 2018 and also played a role in the team reaching the final in 2019.
His fans all around the globe were waiting for his appearance in the thirteenth edition of the IPL. However, Chennai Super Kings' Harbhajan Singh has announced that he will not be taking part in IPL 2020 due to personal reasons on September 4. After Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh has become the second Chennai Super Kings player to pull out of the 2020 IPL.
Singh was even absent from the Super Kings' six-day conditioning camp in mid-August in Chennai, which was organised for their Indian players, and did not travel with the team to Dubai on August 21, with word that he would join them later on September 1. His absence had already raised speculations about his participation. But it was confirmed only after the cricketer took to social media to inform his audience that he won’t be a part of the tournament. He went on to say that the CSK management has been extremely supportive of his move.
The veteran Indian spin bowler then wished the Chennai-based franchise good luck on their adventures in the IPL. Even though Bhajji will be missed at the tournament. We hope that he makes a powerful comeback in ICC cricket and other tournaments.
-Abigail Gretel Soares