IPL 2021: R Ashwin recalls the stressful time he spent in IPL bio-bubble

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for an indefinite time as a number of players and support staff returned positive for the novel coronavirus. However, even before the tournament was postponed, India’s ace spinner Ravi Ashwin pulled out his name from the T20 Championship.

Ashwin was plying his trade for the runner-up Delhi Capitals (DC) but he abruptly decided to withdraw from the league and left DC’s biosecure bubble. Though Ashwin or DC didn’t disclose the reason for his early exit initially, the off-spinner’s wife took to her official Twitter handle to reveal as many as ten people at their home tested positive for the coronavirus.

Days after the postponement of IPL 2021, Ashwin finally opened up on that phase of his life. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the off-spinner revealed that almost everyone back home contracted the virus and a few of his family members’ health deteriorated and they had to be admitted to the hospital.

As the condition at his home worsened, Ashwin couldn’t be at peace while living in the bio-bubble. The 34-year-old revealed that the stress and tension didn’t let him sleep for eight to ten days. Without any proper sleep and rest, it was difficult for the bowling all-rounder to focus on cricket.

I couldn’t sleep for almost 8-9 days: Ravi Ashwin

Ashwin admitted that when he was leaving there was a thought on the back of his mind that he might not be able to play cricket anymore but the situation had gone out of his control. “Almost everyone from my place had got affected due to COVID. In fact, a few of my cousins also got admitted and were serious and they somehow recovered. I couldn’t sleep for almost 8-9 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 of time,” Ashwin stated.