Recognising Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will miss the services of veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, former India Test wicketkeeper batsman and commentator, Deep Dasgupta, talked about who should be his ideal replacement for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE, starting September 19.
Given the conditions at venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the fact that the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led three-time champions already boast of enough specialist spin options that conventionally take the ball away from the right-hander, Dasgupta voted for someone who could bring the ball in, in Harbhajan's mould if not his ability. CSK's only off-spinner is Kedar Jadhav, who is a part-time tweaker.
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Assessing options within that category, 43-year-old batted for Kerala all-rounder Jalaj Saxena's inclusion in the CSK set-up.
"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," Dasgupta told ESPNcricinfo.
Saxena, 33, has been performing brilliantly at the domestic level for years without any higher recognition. In first-class cricket, he averages 35.98 with the bat and 27.17 with the ball after 123 matches. Pertinently, in all of 54 T20s played in his career so far, Saxena has an economy rate of just 6.92.
“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.
Any replacement, however, will come with the pressure of filling in the big shoes of the turbanator, who is an IPL legend in his own right, with an economy rate of just 7.05 and 150 wickets in 160 games.
“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."
