Ashwin withdraws from IPL 2021 to support family over COVID-19

Delhi Capitals senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has pulled out of IPL 2021 to be with his family during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delhi Capitals bowler Ravichandran Ashwin.

Delhi Capitals senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has decided to withdraw from IPL 2021 and stated that he will leave the Indian Premier League bio-bubble to be with his family in the fight against COVID-19.

Ashwin, who played against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday in his hometown Chennai, announced his decision to pull out of the T20 league via Twitter. "I would be taking a break from this years IPL from tomorrow. My family and extended family are putting up a fight against #COVID19 and I want to support them during these tough times," Ashwin wrote.

 

The 34-year-old did not rule out a return to the team in the later stages of the tournament. The IPL protocol states that any player rejoining the team would require them to undergo a period of quarantine before joining the bubble.

He added, "I expect to return to play if things go in the right direction. Thank you @DelhiCapitals."

I would be taking a break from this years IPL from tomorrow. My family and extended family are putting up a fight against #COVID19 and I want to support them during these tough times. I expect to return to play if things go in the right direction. Thank you @DelhiCapitals

— Stay home stay safe! Take your vaccine (@ashwinravi99) April 25, 2021

 

His franchise promised full support to him..

"Extending our full support to you in these difficult times, @ashwinravi99. Sending you and your family all the strength and prayers from all of us at Delhi Capitals," DC posted on its Twitter handle.

The off-spinner had expressed his concern about the pandemic in an earlier tweet.

"Heart breaking to see what's happening around my country! I am not in the healthcare fraternity, but my sincere gratitude to each of them. I would also like to make an earnest appeal to every Indian to exercise caution and stay safe," he had said.

 

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals seamer Andrew Tye became the second player to leave the tournament citing personal developments and flew back to Australia. Rajasthan Royals Liam Livingstone returned to his home in England, citing 'bubble fatigue.'

"There were a number of reasons (for leaving), but the main one was with the situation that has started to happen back in Perth with a lot of cases in hotel quarantine coming out of India," Tye told SEN radio .

"I just thought to try and get on the front foot and get home before I got locked out of the country."

Large parts of India, including the IPL host cities, are in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic. There have been 300,000 new cases every day - the most by any nation since the pandemic broke out in 2020 - which has led to crippling of healthcare services throughout the length and breadth of the country.