‘Cricketers and officials can’t be totally deaf or blind to whatever is going on outside’ – Abhinav Bindra on the conduct of IPL 2021

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra reckons that the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) should take a slight backseat amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The 38-year-old mentioned that at a time when the country is facing the wrath of coronavirus, he’s found it tough to relate to any post and he prefers to ‘scroll past’ any update on the ongoing T20 tournament.

Bindra mentioned that in the present scenario, the sportspersons aren’t the frontline workers and the ones ‘saving lives’ are the ‘real heroes’. He said while the IPL is taking place in the bio-security bubbles, one should also be aware of the situation outside the field of play.

As per the veteran, the celebrations of the IPL shouldn’t overshadow the travails of the country. Bindra put forth his opinions in his exclusive column for the New Indian Express.

The players should realise just how privileged they are to play in the IPL: Abhinav Bindra

“Cricketers and officials can’t just live in their own bubble, and be totally deaf or blind to whatever is going outside. I can only imagine that while you’re having these IPL games, outside the stadium you have ambulances going to hospitals. I don’t know how the coverage on TV is but I would really appreciate if it’s a little bit muted in nature,” Bindra wrote.

Bindra, also the founder of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, mentioned that the players, taking part in the IPL, should take responsibility in making the general people aware of the importance of taking the necessary precautionary measures in the pandemic.

“The players should realise just how privileged they are to be able to play the IPL in these times. So, I just hope everybody involved in the IPL play their part in one way or the other, either through right messaging – like the importance of masking up, the importance of social distancing – or even finding creative ways to amplify the health requirements of people,” he added.

Bindra stated that had he been the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), he would have contributed whole-heartedly to the conduct of vaccination and in any other way. The 2021 IPL started on April 9 with the final scheduled for May 30.