Chennai: India and Delhi Capitals off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has decided to take a break from the ongoing IPL 2021, citing the need to be with his family during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ashwin announced the decision following Delhi Capitals’ game against Sunrisers Hyderabad here on Sunday night.
“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,” Ashwin wrote on Twitter.
The 34-year-old in his tweet, also said that he “expects to return if things go in the right direction”.
“I expect to return to play if things go in the right direction. Thank you @DelhiCapitals,” added the Chennai-based player.
The protocols for any player joining the bio-bubble after leaving it once will require them to have a period of quarantine in the hotel before entering the bubble again.
Delhi Capitals (DC) edged past Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first super over finish of this year’s IPL on Sunday night.
With this game, DC finished their Chennai leg of IPL 2021 and will now travel to Ahmedabad for their next set of matches.
Meanwhile, spinners’ franchise promised full support to him in a twitter post of its own.
“Extending our full support to you in these difficult times, @ashwinravi99. Sending you and your family all the strength and prayers from all of us at Delhi Capitals,” DC said.
Ashwin has become the first Indian player to pull out of the league because of a COVID-19 situation in the family.
India registered 3,52,991 fresh cases of the Novel Coronavirus and 2812 casualties in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day spike in terms of cases and deaths since the pandemic hit, according to the data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Monday morning. (UNI)