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KL Rahul's Former IPL Teammate Opens Up About His Anxiety During COVID-19

KL Rahul's Former IPL Teammate Opens Up About His Anxiety [X.com]KL Rahul's Former IPL Teammate Opens Up About His Anxiety [X.com]

In recent times, a growing number of cricketers have been stepping away from the game to focus on their mental well-being. The conversation around mental health in elite sports has gained momentum, and while many athletes prefer to handle their struggles privately, some, like Australian bowler Jhye Richardson, are choosing to speak out. 

A Troubling Time During IPL 2021

Jhye Richardson, who was a part of the IPL in 2021 and 2024, recently shared his experience of battling mental health issues during the 2021 season. At that time, he was with Punjab Kings, a team that boasted players like KL Rahul and Chris Gayle. 

In an interview with cricket.com.au, the 27-year-old revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing chaos significantly impacted his mental health.

During IPL 2021, Richardson's struggles intensified as the tournament faced a suspension midway through due to COVID-19 cases within the bio-secure bubble. 

Jhye Richardson has since been diagnosed with clinical anxiety. Despite his impressive career, with 57 international wickets to his name, he found himself in need of professional help.

“A lot of it started during COVID. My trip to the IPL – I left home not in the headspace that I probably should have been. Things sort of hit the fan while I was away, and everything with COVID and not being able to get home and stuff like that, it just toppled on top of each other. I think you don’t realise what sort of space you’re in until it becomes too much, which is why now I encourage a lot of young cricketers to work on their mental health – even if they think that they’re going okay,” Richardson stated.

Richardson's situation reached a point where professional intervention was necessary. 

“Everything just got to a point where there was some professional intervention that needed to happen. I’m not willing to go into a whole lot of detail, but I just landed in a spot where things were bad enough that I stepped back and said, ‘I can’t continue thinking the way that I am’ and (needed) to get a bit more education and knowledge about how the brain works,”  he revealed.

Jhye Richardson's Career So Far

Richardson made his IPL debut in 2021, playing for the Punjab Kings. Ahead of  2024 IPL, he was bought for INR 5 crore. Over his IPL career, he has taken 3 wickets in 4 matches, with an average of 52.33.

Richardson has represented Australia in 36 international matches, including three Test matches. His promising start to his career was interrupted by a dislocated shoulder sustained during an ODI against Pakistan in the UAE in 2019. This injury sidelined him not only for the ODI World Cup but also for the Ashes series. Additionally, he has faced a series of injuries that have hindered his progress over the years.