IPL 2021 | Despite early exits due to COVID-19 surge, BCCI says league will go on

While R. Ashwin withdrew from the tournament on Sunday to support his family during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are reports of some Australian players too withdrawing amid the escalating pandemic crisis in India

Anxiety pierced through IPL's bio-secure bubble on Monday with leading and some from the league amid the escalating COVID-19 crisis in India even as the BCCI insisted that the glitzy league will go on. The 34-year-old Ashwin, competing for Delhi Capitals, decided to take a break saying that his family is currently "putting up a fight against COVID-19" and he wants to support them. He hopes to return to the side "if things go in the right direction". However, Andrew Tye (Rajastan Royals) and the duo of Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa (both Royal Challengers Bangalore) withdrew as apprehension set in after a couple of weeks went by smoothly for the league being held in front of empty stands across nine venues.