Australian cricketers Steve Smith and David Warner are mulling over pulling out from the latest edition of IPL given the rise in the number of cases in recent times in the country. While Warner is leading SRH in the tournament, Smith is playing for Delhi Capitals. Despite the players staying in strict bio bubble several players have opted out from the tournament citing bubble fatigue and other personal reasons.
It has now been learned that the Australian duo of Steve Smith and David Warner could also decide to follow the suit and head home before Australia’s borders are shut for people coming in from India. The likes of Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson decided to end their IPL 2021 stint mid-way over fear of Covid-19. With the hospitals struggling to allocate beds, medicines, oxygen and other resources for those affected by the virus, apprehensions among players over contracting the virus are evident.
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Steve Smith, David Warner Likely To Return From IPL 2021
“Australian cricketers including David Warner and Steve Smith are now hoping to be flown home to India before borders shut,” news agency IANS quoted 9News as saying.
“We have got 30 players, coaches and commentators that are very keen to get out of India naturally given the deteriorating situation that they are facing health-wise right across the country,” the report added.
According to Channel9, talks of bringing Warner, Smith as well as coaches like Ricky Ponting, David Hussey and Simon Katich back home have taken place but nothing concrete has come up. Brett Lee, Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden are also in India as part of the commentary team. They could also be flown home if a decision to take such a step is taken by Cricket Australia.
Meanwhile, Warner’s SRH and Smith Delhi Capitals are placed on opposite ends o the IPL 2021 points table. Delhi is placed second on the points table while SRH is placed last. Delhi will play RCB in their sixth gae of the season later tonight at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad.
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