‘Dear India, sorry…’: IPL commentator Simon Doull bids emotional adieu

As the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League was indefinitely suspended over COVID cases across teams, foreign cricketers, coaches and commentators are starting to leave the country. New Zealand’s former cricketer-turned-commentator Simon Doull took to Twitter to bid an emotional farewell to the COVID-hit country.

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“Dear India, You have given me so much over so many years,” Doull wrote, and “I am sorry to be leaving you in such trying times,” he added.

“To those who are suffering my heart go’s out to you and your families. Please do what you can to stay safe,” he tweeted.

“Until next time take care,” the commentator said in his note.

Doull was a part of IPL’s English commentary panel.

The tournament was indefinitely suspended on Tuesday as several players tested positive for COVID-19.

Firstly, two Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players, Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, tested positive on Monday after which their match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was rescheduled.

As test results of other players came, it became evident that the virus had breached IPL’s secure bio-bubble.

Those who contracted the coronavirus were, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) Wriddhiman Saha, Delhi Capitals’ Amit Mishra and Chennai Super Kings’ batting coach Mike Hussey and bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji.

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As India was battling an aggressive second coronavirus wave, with record cases and deaths being registered daily, IPL matches were played across six venues. While many questioned the game’s timing and place, others asserted that it was a distraction from the virus scare and fatigue. Questions were also raised if the tournament would have taken place in COVID-hit India.

The previous edition of the IPL was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as India battled the coronavirus.