IPL 2021: Once The Virus Entered, Everyone Panicked And The Foreigners Especially: Shreevats Goswami

As per reports of PTI, multiple players who participated in the IPL 2020 and IPL 2021, mentioned that the bio-bubble created for the IPL 2020 which was held in the UAE, was much more secure and tighter than the bubble created for the IPL 2021, which was held in India. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) player Shreevats Goswami even mentioned that once the bio-bubble was breached, everyone panicked.

This revelation comes after the IPL 2021 was postponed indefinitely mid-way into the tournament when four players, two coaches, and several support staff from multiple franchises tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The players who tested positive were Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Wriddhiman Saha from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Amit Mishra from Delhi Capitals (DC). Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coaches L Balaji and Michael Hussey also tested COVID positive along with a bus cleaner.

PTI spoke to some participants in the league to get an insight into the bio-bubble this year and how the dynamics changed after cases came to light inside it.

But Once The Virus Entered, Everyone Panicked And The Foreigners Especially: Shreevats Goswami

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) wicketkeeper-batsman Shreevats Goswami said he does not suspect any player or support staff of violating the COVID-19 SOPs. However, he said that once the bubble was breached by the virus, everyone panicked.

“We were well taken care of inside the bubble. None of the players or support staff breached it. But once the virus entered, I will not deny, everyone panicked and the foreigners especially. You can’t really help it.

I know I am a sportsman with good immunity. God forbid, if I contract the virus, I would recover. But what if as an asymptomatic carrier, I give it to my aged parents…When virus entered, most players were scared because you don’t want your family to get affected,” Goswami said.

While the IPL 2021 has been halted for time being, the BCCI is looking for a window to complete the tournament and it has been reported that the remainder of the tournament might be held outside India.

Here You Could See People Coming And Going Even Though They Were On Different Floors

News agency PTI conversed with multiple players who played in both IPL 2020 and IPL 2021 and some of them spoke about the comparison of the bio-bubbles prepared for both editions.

A player, who did not wish to be named, said that it wasn’t as secure as it was in the UAE, where not a single case cropped up during tournament-proper.

“Though teams and BCCI tried their best, the bubble was much tighter in the UAE. Here you could see people coming and going even though they were on different floors. I saw some use the pool also. Then practice facilities were also far away,” he said.

The IPL 2020 saw players and support staff testing positive for Coronavirus in the Chennai Super Kings camp, but that before the tournament began and after that, not a single case popped up.

Also Read: English Counties Offer To Host The Remainder Of IPL 2021