We did not panic: Sunrisers all-rounder Vijay Shankar on Covid-19 circumstances in IPL 2021 bio-bubbles

All-rounder Vijay Shankar mentioned Sunrissers Hyderabad gamers have been frightened however didn’t panic at any stage when information of constructive Covid-19 circumstances emerged from bio-bubbles of a number of Indian Premier League franchises earlier this month. IPL 2021 was suspended on May 4 after a few gamers and help employees in Delhi and Ahmedabad contracted the virus regardless of being in bio-secure environments.Kolkata Knight Riders’ match towards Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 3 was postponed after two KKR gamers examined Covid-19 constructive. Sunrisers Hyderabad have been scheduled to tackle Mumbai Indians on May 4 in Delhi but it surely emerged that wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha had contracted the novel coronavirus. Hours forward of the match, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced that the T20 league could be indefinitely postponed.Speaking to indiatoday.in, Vijay Shankar mentioned Sunrisers Hyderabad have been making an attempt to maintain their deal with the sport in hand towards Mumbai Indians at the same time as reviews of constructive Covid-19 circumstances from different camps emerged.”More than panic, it was just about being worried. A couple of guys tested positive, when someone tested positive in our team, it became a bit more,” Shankar mentioned.”Otherwise, we knew even the day they suspended the IPL, we were supposed to play a game. We were trying to prepare and keep ourselves motivated till we got the message, saying the IPL was suspended,” he added.’It undoubtedly served as a supply of motivation’Vijay Shankar conceded that bio-bubble life just isn’t straightforward however Sunrisers Hyderabad gamers gelled properly as a unit to ensure they remained upbeat. The India all-rounder, who performed the 2019 World Cup, added that IPL serving to individuals take their thoughts off Covid-19, even for a few hours each night, proved to be a serious supply of motivation for the gamers and help employees of their camp.”First year, last time, when we faced this, it was a bit difficult. Bio-bubble life is a bit difficult but if you ask me as a professional, it’s important for us to adapt to it and follow the protocols. As a team, you need to be together. Only then you can spend those 1 and half two months together. Otherwise, it will be difficult for every individual,” he added.”At the end of the day, we want to play cricket and entertain the people. In this situation, there were a lot of people who were looking up to the IPL every evening to sit and watch and forget about every other thing. A tournament like this was helping take the viewers’ mind off Covid. It definitely was (a source of motivation), we were trying to give our best,” he added.’Change in SRH captaincy didn’t influence gamers’Sunrisers Hyderabad had an uncharacteristically troublesome season as they have been reeling on the backside of the IPL 2021 factors desk with 6 defeats in 7 matches earlier than the event was suspended. Things didn’t go their means as the previous champions struggled to get used to the situations in Chennai the place they performed their first 5 matches.In an unexpected transfer, David Warner was changed as captain by Kane Williamson after 6 matches into the season. In a transfer that helped elevate fairly a number of eyebrows, Warner was dropped from the taking part in XI as SRH determined to go in with out their premier opener and probably the most profitable batsmen within the IPL for his or her following match. The change in captaincy didn’t convey change in fortunes as SRH misplaced their first match of the season beneath Williamson.However, SRH had dressing room atmosphere via their marketing campaign and alter in captaincy didn’t influence the way in which the remainder of the gamers ready for the video games, in keeping with Shankar.”I think, overall, even till the last game, we were having a very good time together. Results, yeah, it does keep changing. As a team, we were very close and trying to give our best. If we had won a couple of close games we had, things would have been different. Otherwise, we were preparing well and gelling well as a team,” Shankar mentioned.”Individually, there was nothing much to do for us. We got the message saying the captain has changed. If you ask me as a player, it doesn’t matter who is leading, it’s important for you to give your best whoever is your captain. Whatever the coach says, it’s very important to follow that.”I do not assume the captaincy modifications or even when there may be another change in the midst of the season, will play quite a bit in our minds, it is necessary to deal with our strengths,” he added.