Star India player sheds light on mental challenges of bio-bubble life

The onset of COVID-19 probably had its biggest effect on the field of sports. After the initial cease of all the sporting events, the restart saw events being organized behind closed doors.

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In the present situation, where the infection rate is decreasing every day, spectators are being allowed to watch live-action. But the athletes are required to spend life in isolation to avoid getting infected. Thus, sporting events and bio-bubbles have become synonymous for athletes now. Life in bio-bubbles has become the new normal for sports professionals. Cricket has not been an exception to this.

The BCCI has been following the international bio-bubble standards for both domestic and international fixtures. The norms include bubble to bubble transfer, alongside the fact that a new entry into the ecosystem needs to undergo quarantine before being able to join their team. The players are bound to stay within the bio-bubble as long as a particular tournament or series is ongoing.

In a recent conversation on ‘Red Bull Cricket’ on Clubhouse, Indian star batsman KL Rahul shared his experience of being inside the bio-bubble ecosystem. He said that while he was initially okay being inside the bubble during the last series against West Indies, the monotony took a serious mental toll on him. To quote him from the conversation – “I was quite okay initially, but I think the last series and the West Indies series at home really got to me. It became very difficult for me to keep myself motivated. The first few bubbles I did manage. Because I kept asking myself, ‘Where else can I be? What else can I do?’ Nothing. Cricket is the only thing I am good at and this is the thing I have chosen, so I owe it to myself," he said

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“I kept pushing myself that way. But the last couple of months were very difficult. Shreyas and me were chatting about how it’s getting more difficult especially when your families can’t come and be with you. You need your family, friends to just feel normal. We had to sleep, wake up, go to the ground. It just became a routine. It started getting very difficult,”- he further added.

Rahul will be captaining the newly introduced Lucknow franchise in the 15th season of the Indian T20 League beginning from 26th March 2022.