Kane Richardson and Ravichandran Ashwin among the 5 players pulled out of IPL 2021 as India suffer from second wave of Covid-19

The list of players pulling out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, mid-way into the ongoing season, is growing by the week as India continues to reel under the second wave of Covid-19.

IPL 2021 is being held in strict bio-bubble environments across 6 major cities in India, which has been breaking the global record for the highest number of positive coronavirus cases for the past 5 days now.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's overseas recruits Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson became the latest foreign players to leave the tournament and return home to Australia, the franchise announced on Monday.

Both players have



taken the drastic decision to leave citing 'personal reasons'. 14 cricketers from Australia are still plying their trade for the 8 franchises in the competition.

Apart from the 3 Aussies, Ravichandran Ashwin and Liam Livingstone are also not going to take any further part in the tournament. Delhi Capitals off-spinner Ashwin is the only player among the five who has blamed Covid as the reason behind his withdrawal.

Ashwin, who featured in DC's Super Over win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 20 on Sunday, took to social media to announce his decision and added that he would return to play for the franchise "if things go in the right direction".