Indian and Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on his own YouTube channel, on Thursday, revealed that he had sleepless nights while he was playing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 (suspended) because of members of his family and his extended family tested positive for COVID-19.
Ashwin had left IPL 2021 mid-way to take care of his family member due to a worrisome COVID-19 situation. Ashwin’s family members were infected with COVID-19 and a few of his cousins were admitted to the hospital.
“Almost everyone from my place had got affected due to COVID-19,” Ashwin said. “In fact, a few of my cousins also got admitted and were serious and they somehow recovered.”
Ashwin explained his ordeal stating that he had thoughts on whether will he be able to play cricket thereafter.
“I couldn’t sleep for almost eight-nine days. Since I couldn’t sleep, it was really stressful for me. I was playing matches without getting any sleep. And since I found it really taxing, I had to quit IPL and go home midway. In fact, when I left around that time, I had thoughts on whether I will be able to play cricket thereafter. But still, I did what was required at that point in time. Anyway, after that, I thought there won’t be any cricket for some time.”
On recovery of a family member, Ashwin had plans of resuming IPL, but it was called off before that.
“In between, when people in my house started recovering, I thought of coming back into the IPL and that’s when IPL was called off,” he said.
With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allowing families of players on tours, Ashwin is in the bio-bubble with his wife and two daughters in Mumbai quarantining for14-days.
Ashwin is named in the squad for the five-Test match series on England tour starting in August and also for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand starting on June 18.
