IPL 2019 | Feels good to be back after sickness, says Harbhajan Singh

Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh had started his campaign in this year’s Indian Premier League with a bang, as he had dismissed Royal Challenger Bangalore’s Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali in the season’s first encounter. He scalped two more wickets each in two of the next three matches but missed out after CSK’s encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 9 due to sickness. However, he was delighted to return with a fantastic performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad by dismissing Jonny Bairstow and David Warner, continuing with his penchant for big wickets. 

"It's always nice to go out there in the middle, unfortunately, I missed a few games due to sickness. My whole family was sick, in fact. Nice to be back, and really happy with the result as well," said Harbhajan, at the post-match presentation ceremony, reported PTI.

Shane Watson had struck 96 off 53 balls and post his dismissal, the equation had come to a run-a-ball 17. But the CSK batsmen stuttered and they finished the game with just one ball remaining. The India spinner did not fail to accept that it sent his heart racing but also said that he was delighted with the eventual result.  

"We would have liked to finish the game in the 19th over itself, but the boys were just testing our hearts. Somehow we have the tendency to take it to the last over. As long as we're getting the result, we're fine,” the 38-year-old expressed.

Shane Watson had notched up two centuries and had scored 555 runs last year, but started off poorly this year with just 147 runs in ten games. He roared back to form with a match-winning performance and “Bhajji”, as he is fondly called by his team-mates, was all praise for the Australian.

"It's nice to see Shane Watson getting those runs under his belt. He's a serious player, last year he won us the final single-handedly, and this innings will boost his confidence,” he asserted.

In their last 18 games at Chepauk, CSK have only lost one and this goes on to show their domination on their home turf. The venue has always been jam-packed with enormous support from the crowd, and the 2011 World Cup winner thanked them for the same.

"We always play well in Chennai, we know our conditions, and thanks to this beautiful crowd who come here to Chennai Super Kings. When teams come here, they have to play much better cricket than us to beat us," he signed off.