Had thoughts on whether I will be able to play cricket after IPL exit: Ashwin

India and Delhi Capitals (DC) off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says that he was not sure if he was ever going to play cricket again after his exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Many from his family, including his kids, were affected by Covid-19 and he thought it would be best to leave the bubble as he was not in the right state of mind.

“Almost everyone from my place had got affected due to COVID. In fact, a few of my cousins also got admitted and were serious and they somehow recovered. I couldn’t sleep for almost 8-9 days,” he revealed in his YouTube channel.

“Since I couldn’t sleep, it was really stressful for me. I was playing matches without getting any sleep. And since I found it really taxing, I had to quit IPL and go home midway. In fact, when I left, around that time, I had thoughts on whether I will be able to play cricket thereafter. But still, I did what was required at that point in time."

“I thought there won’t be any cricket for some time. Even IPL got postponed. In between, when people in my house started recovering, I thought of coming back into the IPL and that’s when IPL was called off,” he added.

Ashwin played five matches in IPL 2021 and picked up just one wicket in the curtailed season, but was impressive in keeping the runs down, conceding runs at 7.73 an over.

Ashwin also revealed that he has taken both shots of Covid-19 vaccine and urged everyone to do the same. “I had taken COVAXIN. I completed it two days before the game against SRH. I took it when it was available. Please take your vaccines when it becomes available.”

Ashwin's next assignment will be to help India win the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand, which begins on June 18 in Southampton. He will also be involved when India take on England for a five-Test series, starting August 4.