Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 was postponed due to the rise of COVID-19 cases inside the bio-bubble, which also included the wicketkeeper-batsman of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Wriddhiman Saha. However, after that, the all-rounder Vijay Shankar has said that they were worried but did not panic when they got to know about players are getting affected inside the bio-bubbles of multiple Indian Premier League franchises.
Notably, IPL 2021 was suspended on May 4 after KKR’s two players – Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrior and later a couple of players and support staff in Delhi and Ahmedabad as well who were affected by the virus despite being in the bio-secure bubble which forced the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and IPL Governing Council to call off the T20 league indefinitely with an immediate effect.
While speaking to indiatoday.in, Vijay Shankar said that they were trying to keep their focus on the game against Mumbai Indians despite news of the reports of positive Covid-19 cases came from other camps. “More than panic, it was just about being worried. A couple of guys tested positive, when someone tested positive in our team, it became a bit more,” Shankar said.
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“Otherwise, we knew even the day they suspended the IPL, we were supposed to play a game. We were trying to prepare and keep ourselves motivated till we got the message, saying the IPL was suspended,” he further added.
However, Vijay Shankar also said that bio-bubble life is not easy but they gelled quite well together to make sure they stay positive.
“First year, last time, when we faced this, it was a bit difficult. Bio-bubble life is a bit difficult but if you ask me as a professional, it’s important for us to adapt to it and follow the protocols. As a team, you need to be together. Only then you can spend those 1 and half two months together. Otherwise, it will be difficult for every individual,” he shared.
“At the end of the day, we want to play cricket and entertain the people. In this situation, there were a lot of people who were looking up to the IPL every evening to sit and watch and forget about every other thing. A tournament like this was helping take the viewers’ mind off Covid. It definitely was (a source of motivation), we were trying to give our best,” he expressed.
However, Sunrisers Hyderabad didn’t have a good season in this year’s IPL as they finished at the bottom of the points table with 6 defeats in 7 matches before the tournament was suspended. Meanwhile, this saw David Warner sacked from his captaincy role and Kane Williamson replaced him as captain. While many didn’t support the move, SRH’s fortune didn’t change as they lost the age under Williamson too.
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“I think, overall, even till the last game, we were having a very good time together. Results, yeah, it does keep changing. As a team, we were very close and trying to give our best. If we had won a couple of close games we had, things would have been different. Otherwise, we were preparing well and gelling well as a team,” Shankar revealed.
“Individually, there was nothing much to do for us. We got the message saying the captain has changed. If you ask me as a player, it doesn’t matter who is leading, it’s important for you to give your best whoever is your captain. Whatever the coach says, it’s very important to follow that. I don’t think the captaincy changes or even if there is some other change in the middle of the season, will play a lot in our minds, it’s important to focus on our strengths,” Vijay Shankar concluded.
