India and Delhi Capitals off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday said he is going to take a break from Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, adding that he wants to support his “family and extended family” who are putting a fight against Covid-19.
Ashwin took to social media to announce his decision and added that he would return to play for Delhi Capitals “if things go in the right direction.
“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,” Ashwin said in a social media post.
Meanwhile Andrew Tye, the Rajasthan Royals fast bowler, flew back home to Australia on Sunday citing “personal reasons”, his exit coming even as India battles a severe wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, with over a million positive cases recorded in the past four days.
On Sunday, a leading Indian newspaper group suspended coverage of the IPL, calling the tournament “commercialism gone crass” and “incongruous” as the record-breaking pandemic surge grips the country.
Express Publications said in a front-page editorial of its flagship English-language daily, the New Indian Express, that the paper was halting reporting on the Twenty20 event until a “semblance of normalcy is restored”. (India Media)