IPL 2021: RCB bowlers Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson leave the tournament

The list of players opting out of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League due to reasons around the growing concerns of COVID-19 is becoming longer with each passing day. As per the recent official announcement made by the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise, two of their Australian players, leg-spinner Adam Zampa and pacer Kane Richardson have decided to pull out of the tournament citing personal reasons.

Richardson and Zampa’s exit call comes hours after Indian spinner and Delhi Capitals’ player Ravichandran Ashwin took to Twitter and announced his decision to not participate in the IPL due to family reasons. Before him, Andrew Tye, Rajasthan Royals’ fast bowler, flew back to Australia intending to avoid the growing risks in India and the fear of not being able to return to his nation due to flight unavailability. 

Apart from Tye, Rajasthan Royals also withstood a blow as opening batsman Liam Livingstone, having spent a considerable amount of time in bio-secure environments in the recent past, cited bubble fatigue as a reason for his opting-out from the tournament.

Managements respects the players’ decision: Royal Challengers Bangalore 

Official Announcment:

Adam Zampa & Kane Richardson are returning to Australia for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of #IPL2021. Royal Challengers Bangalore management respects their decision and offers them complete support.#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers pic.twitter.com/NfzIOW5Pwl

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 26, 2021

Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, on 26th April 2021, tweeted and extended their support to their players.

“Official Announcement: Adam Zampa & Kane Richardson are returning to Australia for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of #IPL2021. Royal Challengers Bangalore management respects their decision and offers them complete support,” read the franchise’s tweet.

There are now 14 Australian players participating in the IPL, including the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, and Pat Cummins, as well as a handful of coaches like Ricky Ponting and Katich and commentators such as Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, and Michael Slater. The IPL is being played in a tightly controlled bio-secure bubble and no one inside that environment has returned a positive test since the tournament began