India and Punjab Kings (PBKS) speedster Mohammad Shami opened up about the challenges the cricketers face while living in bio-bubble with the added pressure of doing well for the country and team in the COVID-19 era.
Since the sports resumed after the COVID-19 break, cricketers, like other sportspersons, are forced to live in the bio-secure environment to avoid contracting the deadly Coronavirus, and Shami said living in the bio-bubble can be irritating at times and players can also get mentally disturbed.
He is currently in the PBKS bio-bubble to play in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) in the UAE. Shami was shifted from one bio-bubble in England to another one in the UAE.
Though, Shami has stressed the need to be strong mentally to perform well for the team while living in the bio-bubble. At the moment, PBKS is ranked fifth in the IPL 14 points table while the pacer is among the five highest wicket-takers with 13 wickets in 10 matches in the ongoing IPL 2021.
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Shami told Sportstar: “The biggest challenge is to go out in these times; traveling from one country to the other in bio-bubbles. If there is a long tour, you are away from your family for that period. The players can get mentally disturbed. And it can be irritating at times.”
He added, “You have to be in your room, and then, there is performance pressure to play for your country and franchise. But this is the best that we can do. You have to be mentally strong to do this.”
On his fitness, the fast bowler said: “My body is doing good overall. I had an injury after I got hit in Australia; otherwise, the momentum has been good. The only thing is to know how you can recover from niggles. If you need a massage or rest or treatment, you need to understand such things as there is cricket throughout the year. We only have to take care of our bodies.”
Shami signed off by saying on managing his workload, “As far as my workload is concerned, more or less I am in the recovery mode. My teammates make fun of my rest mode (laughs). When I am not on the ground, I don’t waste my energy. I know that I will give my 100 percent when I am switched on.”
