IPL 2021 | Glenn Maxwell opens up on life in bio-secure bubbles, rates it as 'never-ending nightmare'

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has opened various areas of concerns for the players and administrators, and one prominent worry among all has been the mental state of players.

There have been players who have opted out of tournaments citing extended time period stuck in biosecure bubbles—mode cricket boards have adopted to conduct tournaments free of Covid-19 fears.

Now, one of the latest entrant of Royal Challengers Bangalore—Glenn Maxwell has highlighted the challenges of being locked under biosecure bubbles. He has rated movement from one bubble to another as a ‘never-ending nightmare’ that has never ended since the time pandemic began.

“It’s very difficult. you being sheltered from people outside your bio-secure bubble and you get stuck into this never-ending nightmare where you are living the same day over and over again,” Maxwell said in a video released by RCB on their Youtube channel.

Maxwell outlined the change in behaviour people undergo as they almost forget communication with people and players have to deal with such ‘massive challenge’ day in and day out.

“You almost tend to forget how to have a normal conversation with the outside world. That can be very hard mentally and is a massive challenge. But it’s great to be back playing and to be able to do our jobs and entertain people. But it’s still a difficult lifestyle at the moment,” he added.

Maxwell was bought by the RCB for a whopping Rs 14.25 crore in the auction earlier this year after the Kings XI Punjab had released him for his poor performances.

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If COVID-19 can happen to MI camp, nothing is safe anywhere else: Franchises' officials

The positive cases of COVID-19 have created an atmosphere of tension and stress among the franchises. After RCB, KKR and Delhi Capitals, the Mumbai Indians too have been affected. MI’s scout and wicket-keeping consultant Kiran More had tested positive for the disease earlier. Talking to Times of India, officials from other franchises have admitted that this is a cause of concern. “If this can happen to the Mumbai Indians’ camp, then nothing is safe anywhere else. They are always doubly prepared in circumstances like these. Their bio-bubble began on March 1 in Mumbai and ever since, they have been travelling inside it. Like they did in the UAE, they once again booked the entire wing of a five-star resort in Chennai this season too. If they’re worried right now trying to figure out how Kiran got infected, others are all the more worried,” representatives of two other franchises told TOI. The IPL 2021 is scheduled to begin from April 9 when RCB take on defending champions Mumbai Indians in the opening clash in Chennai. Earlier, RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal joined the camp after testing negative for COVID-19. He tested positive on March 22 and had been quarantining at home since. Apart from Padikkal, bowling all-rounder Daniel Sams has tested positive. The left-arm pacer had tested negative first when he arrived on April 3 at the team hotel but his second test has come out to be positive, according to an official statement from the franchise.

SA vs PAK: Fakhar Zaman brings up consecutive century to propel Pakistan in series decider

After a heroic century in the second ODI of the series against South Africa, Fakhar Zaman did not waste his good form one bit and brought another century in the series decider. He batted with supreme control and hit three sixes and nine fours on his way to 101 from 104 balls. He first stitched a 112-run partnership with his opening partner Imam-ul-Haq and then followed it up with another 94-run of batting together with his skipper Babar Azam. His century and able support from Azam and Imam along with a batting blitz from Hassan Ali propelled Pakistan to a huge total of 320 runs in an all-important series finale. Also, his innings of 193 runs in the last game against the same opponent helped him jump seven places on the ICC Rankings for Batsmen in ODIs. He now has secured his place at 12th spot on the list that has many champion batsmen of the format such as his skipper Babar Azam and Virat Kohli. His form has been recognised by the team management and upon their request, the national selection committee of Pakistan have added him to the T20I squads for the series against South Africa and Zimbabwe that will follow the ongoing ODI series.

IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians favourite to make a hat-trick of titles feels Michael Vaughan

With the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League set to kick off in less than two days, former England skipper Michael Vaughan has picked the strongest contender to win the tournament. He feels that Mumbai Indians will make a hat-trick of titles and if they falter at any stage then Sunrisers Hyderabad have a good chance to win the trophy for the second time. Taking to his Twitter handle, Vaughan wrote, Early #IPL2021 prediction ... @mipaltan will win it ... if by some bizarre loss of form then @SunRisers will win it ... #OnOn #India. The 14th edition of the extravaganza kicks off on 9th April with a high octane clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Mumbai Indians looks one of the strongest teams on paper and the other seven teams will have their task cut out against the mighty MI. The Blue brigade has won both the last two editions and during the previous season in UAE, they were by the far the most superior team in the competition and remained at the top of the ladder for the majority of the tournament. Rohit Sharma has been an incredible captain for them and given the players at his arsenal, the job hasn’t been that difficult for the Hitman. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad won the title back in 2016 and also have a formidable team to boast of. An able captain in David Warner and some exceptional all-around players, SRH will also back themselves to go a long way in the upcoming tournament.

Year after anti - China clamour, Virat Kohli to bat for Vivo as brand returns to IPL sponsorship

Ahead of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League where it will return as the official sponsor after an unceremonious departure last year, the smartphone brand Vivo has appointed Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador. Kohli, who will be leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the upcoming edition of the league has been roped in to propagate awareness and promotion launch of Vivo's upcoming product. Notably, Vivo had withdrawn its name from the sponsorship of the IPL last year in the wake of rising anti-China sentiments in the country following a deadly clash between the armies of two nations resulting in 20 casualties in India. After Vivo’s pullout from the league, the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) had to accept sponsorship worth well below the price Vivo was offering. Fantasy sports company Dream 11 sealed the deal with the BCCI for one edition and before the auction of the 14the edition, BCCI made it clear that Vivo will be returning as the principal sponsor of the cash-rich league. The move is likely to enrage Virat Kohli and Indian cricket fans as India and China—the country of Vivo’s origin are still at loggerheads at the border. However, the return of Vivo as the sponsor of the league and Kohli singing up for the smartphone company serves as a crucial reminder that the profits the game earns for the players and the boards involved overweigh every other aspect in the longer run.