ICC T20 World Cup 2021 winning skipper Aaron Finch accepts that Josh Hazlewood’s experience in CSK played a crucial role in lifting their maiden T20 World Cup.
Aaron Finch Praises MS Dhoni
Australia’s fast bowler Josh Hazlewood had spent significant time with MS Dhoni while playing for CSK in IPL 2021 which was also held in UAE, leading up to the T20 World Cup 2021.
Finch also claims that Hazlewood’s performance in IPL 2021 forced his way into the playing 11 over Kane Richardson.
“Yeah, he (Hazlewood) was really important with our bowling group. He shared his experience of CSK which was really important. To be able to bowl particularly at the end of the tournament where the wickets started to get more worn and hard length, which is Josh Hazlewood’s speciality, I guess, was tough to hit,” said Finch in the post-match press conference as per ICC.
“Yeah, that was really important that he passed on that information. Honestly, his performances in the IPL probably forced his way into the starting 11 over Kane Richardson who is a wonderful T20 bowler and someone who has been so important for us. But yeah, that was a tough call,” Finch added.
Link – https://www.icc-cricket.com/video/2350832
MS Dhoni-led CSK won their 4th IPL trophy by beating KKR in the IPL 2021 final. CSK had their worst campaign in IPL 2021 where the Chennai-based team failed to enter the playoff for the first time in IPL since 2008.
In the followed season CSK gave their best and become the first team to qualify to the playoff and eventually got the straight ticket to play the IPL 2021 finals.
MS Dhoni might not have given technical inputs to Hazlewood but to pick him and give him the ball at crucial stages of the match in the IPL 2021 might have given Hazlewood the confidence to come up with such a remarkable performance in the final of the T20 World Cup in Dubai.
