The Focus Remains As Intact As Ever: Ajinkya Rahane

With just one week to go before the Delhi Capitals kickstart their IPL 2021 campaign against three-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Indian Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has said that the clock is ticking but his focus remains intact as ever.

Rahane took to his official Twitter account where he shared a picture of himself while batting in the nets and he captioned the post-as-

“A week before the big game. The ⏰ is ticking, but the focus remains as intact as ever,” wrote Ajinkya Rahane.

A week before the big game. The ⏰ is ticking, but the focus remains as intact as ever. pic.twitter.com/JJEhr8rEkB

— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) April 3, 2021

Meanwhile, with Mumbai recording close to 9000 Covid cases- the single highest one-day spike since the pandemic began- and the likes of Axar Patel, several groundsmen and members of BCCI’s IPL organizing committee testing positive for the deadly contagion, doubts have hovered around the city’s ability to host matches amid such a situation.

A franchise official who is currently in Mumbai has said the surge in cases has changed the situation, calling for stricter protocols.

”You do get a little concerned when you hear such things days before the start of the tournament. We have all been following protocols to the core, but obviously, when such a news come in, it makes us a little wary. We are looking at keeping things as tight as possible. Have to be on our guard,” the official said as quoted by ANI.

“This could actually serve as a wake-up call before the start of the tournament. Sometimes we tend to get a little comfortable after going inside the bubble. But this will ensure we follow every protocol and there is no messing up,” said another official. 

Wankhede Stadium is set to host as many as 10 IPL games this season, the first of which will take place between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals on April 10. The BCCI, however, has said that it is not possible to move matches from Mumbai in such a short span of time.

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