Former India player as well as the Bowling Coach of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Laxmipathy Balaji, had earlier tested positive for COVID-19 on the 2nd of May. Notably, it was also the last day when the match of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League took place before it was suspended. However, not only Balaji but also there were several players and other support staff of the various franchises got infected by the virus inside the bio bubble which saw the BCCI and IPL Governing Council cancel the league with immediate effect for an indefinite time period as well.
However, in a recent interview with Cricinfo, Balaji shared that he was in shock when he got to know about his state as he was very strict with his quarantine and followed isolation protocols as well. However, he also shared that he was scared and could not express anything. And, it took him some time to sink in what had happened as well. He also revealed that he was worried and anxious
“On May 2, I was feeling a bit of uneasiness. I had body ache and a mild nose block. I was tested the same day around mid-afternoon. By May 3 morning, I had tested positive. I was shocked. I had done nothing to breach the norms to endanger mine and the rest of the bubble’s safety,” said Balaji.
But he also expressed that he couldn’t understand how the deadly virus breached the bio-bubble as players follow the rules quite strictly especially after what had happened in the UAE last year. Notably, a few players and staff members of CSK got infected by the virus last year too.
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“I was also more worried about the others in my team who I was milling around with before I tested positive. Rajeev Kumar (CSK fielding coach), Robin Uthappa, Cheteshwar Pujara, Deepak Chahar along with Kasi Sir were all around me. So my conscience was battling with the difficult question of what if any of these people tested positive, too? I was praying for their health,” shared Laxmipathy Balaji.
However, not only Balaji but their batting coach Michael Hussey also got affected by it. And, the former speedster still unaware of how it happened as they had very strict protocol inside the bubble from the very first week of March when their preparatory camp started as well.
“After the experience in 2020 IPL when members of the CSK contingent tested positive, the franchise took maximum precautions even when we travelled from Chennai and Mumbai where we were based for the first leg of our IPL. Even in Delhi we followed the strict protocol. I don’t know where we might have caught the infection: was it at the ground? Was it at the training ground at the Roshanara Club? But that was secluded. And why should only two of us get it,” added Laxmipathy Balaji.
However, he was later shifted to Chennai from Delhi. And, he said that it helped him to get back his confidence and mentally he became more optimistic as well.
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“Once in Chennai, the anxiety that had gripped us in Delhi had been replaced by confidence. Mentally we became positive. I started to constantly exchange messages with Hussey and we realised that many were dire situation outside. We were fortunate to be under better care. Eventually, after spending about close to 12 days I returned home in Chennai on May 14,” said Laxmipathy Balaji.
However, he expressed that for him the biggest learning was how to survive in this tough time when one got hit by the adversity that too the hardest. He also shared that this was probably the most unique challenge he had faced in his career so far as well.
“It is a journey of survival is how I look at it. Lakhs of people have been affected, and most of them recovered, but many were not lucky to survive due to different reasons. It has been an intense situation. In my career I have encountered several challenges, but it is a different battle we are going through dealing with the pandemic,” Laxmipathy Balaji concluded.
