IPL 2021: Ravichandran Ashwin takes mid-season break, here's why

Ravichandran Ashwin is an Indian all-rounder who plays for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. He has been playing for DC since 2020, having already represented four franchises before. In IPL, he has claimed 139 wickets in 156 innings at an economy of 6.9.

Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has decided to take a break from the ongoing Indian Premier League. The decision comes after his side Delhi Capitals triumphed Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Super Over during Match 20 of the 2021 Indian Premier League, at the MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium, in Chennai, on Sunday.

As for the mid-season break, Ashwin has said that he wishes to support his family during the tough times surrounding the COVID situation in India. However, he has asserted that he would return in the latter half of the tournament if things go right. 

"I would be taking a break from this years IPL from tomorrow. My family and extended family are putting up a fight against #COVID19 and I want to support them during these tough times. I expect to return to play if things go in the right direction. Thank you @DelhiCapitals," he wrote on Twitter.

Currently, India is under the severe grip of the second wave of Coronavirus. As of Saturday, around 3,50,000 new cases had been reported.

Meanwhile, Ashwin is the fifth player to leave IPL mid-way due to COVID-related stress concerns, especially involving the stern bubble life. The other players happen to be Liam Livingstone, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson.

As for DC, it is on a roll in IPL 2021, having won four of its five games so far and has risen second in the points table, under Rishabh Pant's captaincy. It is yet to win the title to date, while it did finish as the runner-up last season, under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, who is unavailable this season due to a partially displaced shoulder.

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