“Anxiety and unrest”: VVS Laxman reveals SRH atmosphere after CSK support staff tested positive for COVID-19 during IPL 2021

VVS Laxman reveals SRH atmosphere: The former Indian batsman admitted to apprehensions mounting after players contacted the virus.

Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad had played against Chennai Super Kings in Delhi on April 28 before three staff members of the latter tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition to Super Kings CEO, bowling coach and a bus cleaner, three players from two other franchises contacting the virus, Hyderabad wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha had also tested positive before IPL 2021 was postponed to ensure optimum of well-being of all stakeholders.

In his column for The Times of India, former India batsman and current Sunrisers mentor VVS Laxman shared how Saha was slated to play against Rajasthan Royals on May 2 but didn’t make the cut after showing COVID-19 symptoms.

“Wriddhi [Wriddhiman Saha] was slated to play Sunday’s match against Rajasthan Royals [in Delhi] but felt a little under the weather on Saturday night. We immediately placed him in isolation and, despite our prayers, he returned a positive test. We are still wondering how, despite taking all precautions, Wriddhi got infected,” Laxman wrote for TOI.

VVS Laxman reveals SRH atmosphere after CSK support staff tested positive for COVID-19

Laxman, 46, also admitted to apprehensions mounting after people from three teams started to test positive for COVID-19. The fact that they had played against CSK at the Arun Jaitley Stadium had further made matters worse for them.

“We had full confidence in the protocols that had been put in place even when we moved from one city to another, but once we learnt of the positive tests in the KKR and CSK camp, our apprehensions mounted.

“We [SRH] had just finished a match against CSK and several of us caught up with old friends, so there was understandable anxiety and unrest until the test results were out,” he further wrote.

Apart from the global crisis, Sunrisers were also affected by their on-field performances this season. Having registered their worst-ever first half to an IPL season on the back of losing six out of seven matches, SRH ended up replacing captain David Warner with Kane Williamson in an astonishing move.