IPL Gave People A Routine; It Helped To Keep Them In Homes: Pat Cummins

Kolkata Knight Riders star player Pat Cummins had seen the COVID-19 crisis deepening in India, despite which IPL 2021 continued before forcing into postponement. Like a handful of other overseas cricketers, Pat Cummins’ love for India prompted him to help out the nation in the form of medical supplies as well. The 27-year old also felt that keeping the tournament going as it kept people within their homes.

The BCCI had to postpone IPL 2021 indefinitely since a cluster of COVID-19 cases emerged within the bio-bubble. The crisis began unfolding when on Monday, Kolkata Knight Riders’ two players tested positive for COVID-19. The news of Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier testing positive for the disease prompted the authorities to postpone their clash later in the day against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad.

It got worse after SunRisers Hyderabad’s Wriddhiman Saha and Delhi Capitals’ Amit Mishra also tested positive, with Chennai Super Kings’ few members reporting such instances. Hence, the Indian cricket board had no choice but to defer the competition. As of now, it remains unclear as to when the tournament will resume and where.

Pat Cummins wanted to ensure whether playing IPL amid crisis was right since back in Australia, people opined it was baffling to see a cash-rich cricket tournament in play. But the 27-year old revealed that people in India had a different outlook as they wanted to watch the sport for a few hours at night. Cummins thought that it gave people a routine and kept people within the confines of four walls, with the event still going.

“The first thing I wanted to do was make sure playing the IPL was the right call. Speaking to people back home, some had the view that it didn’t see right cricket was going on over here in amongst all the COVID cases. But the response I was getting from people in India was the opposite. They all said that with so many people in lockdown they really appreciate the fact that for three or four hours each night they can watch the IPL. It gives people a routine, it helps to keep them in homes. Everyone thought it was a positive the IPL was still going on,” Pat Cummins told Sydney Morning Hearld.

I wanted to try and help out and give back a little bit: Pat Cummins

The New South Wales speedster was keen to help a struggling nation since he conceded that people have been so good to him. Thus, Cummins wanted to assist and give them back.

“I wondered what could I do? India has been so good to me for so long as a player. The people are amazing. I wanted to try and help out and give back a little bit,” he added.

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