8 days ahead of the beginning of the 14th edition of Indian Premier League, Australian cricketer and Chennai Super Kings' pacer Josh Hazelwood decided to pull out of the cash rich tournament on Thursday.

The news of Josh Hazelwood's departure comes as a big blow for the team as CSK is expected to find a replacement for the player soon. Hazelwood made the decision to withdraw from the tournament in order to keep himself fresh for the Ashes and the T20 World Cup lined up later this year. The pacer also wished to spend some time with his family after spending the last 10 months in bio-bubble and quarantine restrictions. "It's been a long 10 months in bubbles and quarantine at different times, so I decided to have a rest from cricket and spend some time at home and in Australia in the next two months. We've got a big winter ahead too. The West Indies is going to be a long tour, with Bangladesh (T20 tour) potentially thrown on the end of that," Hazelwood was quoted as saying.

"Then potentially the T20 World Cup leading into the Ashes, so it's a big 12 months, as it always is with Australia, and I want to give myself the best chance to be mentally and physically ready for that. That's the decision I've made, and it sits pretty well with me," the pacer added. CSK will be playing their first match of IPL 2021 against Delhi Capitals on April 10 in Mumbai.

Exclusive: Josh Hazlewood has withdrawn from his #IPL stint with @ChennaiIPL & hopes to be playing the #SheffieldShield final in a fortnight | @samuelfez https://t.co/y9ZcYGH6li pic.twitter.com/d3fcALQPyv

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 31, 2021