IPL 2021: Umpire Nitin Menon Takes A Break From Tournament To Take Care Of His Family

Indian cricket umpire Nitin Menon has taken a break from ongoing IPL 2021 to take care of his family during the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Nitin Menon is the only Indian umpire in the ICC Elite panel of umpires. He was officiating in IPL 2021 matches. Nitin Menon is not the first person who has left IPL 2021 midway.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals’ spinner Ravichandran Ashwin withdrew from the tournament to support his family during Covid-19.

Moreover, Rajasthan Royals pacer Andrew Tye left IPL 2021 midway and returned to his home in Australia. Tye stated that fatigue issues due to bubble and fear of getting locked out of his home were his primary seasons to leave the tournament.

RCB players Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson also left the tournament and returned to Australia citing personal reasons.

I Am Taking Care Of My Family: Nitin Menon

Umpire Nitin Menon informed the Times of India that he is taking care of his family. Reports suggest that Nitin Menon’s wife and mother have tested positive for Covid-19.

“I am in hospital and taking care of my family members. I am on a break. Have to see my family,” Nitin Menon informed TOI.

Earlier, MS Dhoni’s parents were also tested positive for Covid-19 while the CSK skipper was busy with IPL matches in Mumbai. Dhoni’s mother Devaki Devi and father Pan Singh were admitted to a private hospital in Ranchi. However, they have recovered from Covid-19 and discharged from the hospital.

The 2^nd wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, which started around March-April, has affected a lot of people in India. More than 3 lakh cases of Covid-19 are arriving in the country on a daily basis. The active cases of Covid-19 in the country have crossed 30 lakh.

BCCI has been criticized for organizing IPL 2021 under such a sensitive situation in the country. However, BCCI has so far successfully managed to conduct IPL 2021 matches. BCCI has taken a lot of precautions to conduct IPL 2021 matches amid the Covid-19 surge in the country.

Players, coaches, and support staff are living under bio-bubble and are regularly tested for Covid-19. Spectators have been kept outside the stadium as the IPL 2021 matches are being played under closed doors.