The Indian Premier League is expected to continue as per schedule, despite some overseas players pulling out of the tournament due to personal reasons and bio-bubble fatigue. Yesterday, Ravichandran Ashwin took a break from the tournament on Sunday, to be with his family, Royal Challengers Bangalore's overseas recruits - Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa - withdrew from the tournament to fly back to Australia. Rajasthan Royals' Andrew Tye - who also pulled out of the league - said that he feared getting locked out of his own country owing to mounting quarantine cases from India in his hometown Perth. India reported 3.52 lakh fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day spike registered since the onset of the pandemic.
A total of 3,52,991 new COVID-19 cases, 2,812 related deaths, and 2,19,272 recoveries were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total of active cases to 28,13,658, as per the health ministry update on Monday morning. While many, aussie cricketers have opted out of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) but Mumbai Indians all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile said he is planning to stay with his team as coronavirus continues to rage. Coulter-Nile is confident of staying in the bio-secure bubble and asserted that all "protocols and measures" are being followed to keep everyone safe in the tournament. Australia's Adam Gilchrist, who led now-defunct Deccan Chargers to their maiden IPL victory in 2009, also waded into the debate. "Best wishes to all in India. Frightening Covid numbers. #IPL continues. Inappropriate? Or important distraction each night? Whatever your thoughts, prayers are with you," tweeted the former test player. The BCCI, on its part, insisted that the event will continue and it wouldn't come in the way of those wanting to leave. "As of now, IPL is going ahead. Obviously, if anyone wants to leave, that's perfectly fine," a senior Board official said to TOI on condition of anonymity. Kolkata Knight Riders mentor David Hussey acknowledged that, Australians in the IPL are a "bit nervous" about getting back home in the wake of the situation in India.
