The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 came to an abrupt end earlier this week after the COVID-19 breached the tournament’s bio-bubble. As many as 2 players tested positive on Monday (May 3) morning while the number of cases increased to 4 by the end of the day. A day later, Wriddhiman Saha and Amit Mishra also contracted the virus.
With the situation going from bad to worse, the BCCI had no other option but to cancel the league. The IPL 2021 was suspended on Tuesday (May 4). Later in the evening, it was also announced that Chennai Super Kings’ batting coach Michael Hussey has also contracted the virus.
Chris Morris, who was bought by Rajasthan Royals for a record price of Rs 16.25 crore in the IPL 2021 auction, opened about players’ reactions after the COVID breached the bio-bubble. Speaking to iol.ca.za, Morris revealed that it was chaos and the England players started panicking.
“By Monday when they postponed that game (between Kolkata and Royal Challengers Bangalore), we knew the tournament was under pressure to continue. I was chatting to our team doctor, whose room was across the hallway from my mine in the hotel, and Kumar (Sangakarra, the Royals’ head coach) came around the corner, and drew his finger across his throat, and then we knew it was over,” Morris said.
“And then it was chaos! The England guys especially were panicking because they needed to isolate in hotels in England first, and apparently there weren’t any rooms.”
The majority of England players landed in the UK a day after IPL 2021 was suspended. They are now in isolation for 10 days. As far as Morris and other South African players are concerned, they have also reached their country and are in home isolation.
The majority of overseas players have left India and are in quarantine. The UK-bound New Zealand players are in India and will leave for England soon.
As for Australian players, commentators, coaches and officials, they are quarantining in the Maldives. The Australian government has banned direct and indirect flights from India till May 15. They will have to serve 14 days in isolation after landing in Australia.
