Australia and Delhi Capitals’ wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey delighted with the fact that the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 is ultimately taking place despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also spoke on the prospect of playing in the extraordinary circumstances due to the global Coronavirus outbreak – which had earlier suspended the IPL 2020.
Nowadays, cricket matches are being played in the empty stadium under several COVID-19 rules set by the government and ICC with the players and other staff staying at the bio-secure venues.
The lucrative T20 league was originally scheduled to begin on March 19 but the Coronavirus outbreak not only delayed the tournament but also forced the BCCI to shift to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
As Carey is set to make his IPL debut for DC in the ongoing season after having a great England tour earlier this September, the Australian star said he was “prepared to anything to come to UAE and play” in the IPL 2020 – where he is keen to make a mark in his debut season.
He was benched in the DC’s thrilling Super Over win over Kings XI Punjab in their first match but he experienced every bit of that full of entertaining encounter in Dubai.
Carey said, “It's a different situation to be in and to be able to come over here (UAE) and play, to have the IPL go ahead is an amazing feeling. For that, we thank the players - thank everyone for putting things together for us. When we were in England, we had a bubble life there, which went really well.”
He further noted, “From there, we jumped on the plane the day after the game (against England) and stayed in Dubai in our hotel bedrooms for the next 24 hours and got our COVID tests done. We were prepared to do anything to come here and to be able to play.”
The DC has started off their IPL 2020 campaign on a winning note, defeating KXIP in their first game and now set for an exciting clash against the Chennai Super Kings on Friday (September 25).
He further added, “The tournament has started so well for us and with another game just around the corner against CSK, hopefully, big Stoiney (Marcus Stoinis) can continue his great form.”
On witnessing his first-ever IPL game as a player, the 29-year-old said: “It was my first IPL game and also my first Super Over, so that was a new experience as well. I suppose we went into the Super Over with a bit of momentum and managed to steal the game then.”
Carey signed off by saying, “I had full confidence in Rabada, I have faced him a few times, so I was sure that he was going to nail his yorkers, which he has done a few times to me. He was incredible. It was a really great feeling to start off with a win, and I think you make really good friendships in a short amount of time when you win such games together.”
(With PTI Inputs)
