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Jimmy Neesham ready to return if IPL 2021 resumes in India despite fears

New Zealand all-rounder, who played for Mumbai Indians this year said that he knew what he signed up for and didn't think about pulling out of the IPL

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Jimmy Neesham said that he would be happy to sign up again for the IPL once the vaccines are rolled out | Photo: BCCI / IPL
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The horrendous situation in India due to COVID-19 led to the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) being suspended and all the players returning their homes or serving quarantines before returning to their homes. While many players in their post wished for India and its citizens to recover quickly and felt sad for leaving the IPL, some of them are happy to come back again if the remaining matches are held in India.

Jimmy Neesham, the New Zealand all-rounder, who played for the Mumbai Indians, landed in Auckland with some of his countrymen on Saturday and is currently serving his mandatory 14-day quarantine. Speaking to newshub.co.nz from his hotel room, Neesham expressed his desire to come back to India despite the risk.

India is going through a devastating second wave of the COVID-19 and there are reports and even the BCCI president suggested that the rest of the 2021 IPL may not take place in India because of the number of cases and quarantine requirements, but Neesham said that he knew what he signed up for and didn't have any thoughts about leaving the IPL midway.

While talking about the same, Neesham said, "For me, I signed up for the IPL knowing what it might be like. I felt like it was an obligation – I made the commitment to go and never had any thoughts of pulling out individually before the tournament finished.

Neesham conceded that he may have a different opinion on the issue but travelling to places where one isn't interested in doing so comes with the job of being a professional athlete and “getting on the field and getting the job done” is what is expected out of him.

According to him, he didn't expect the tournament to be called off and said that no one expected a sudden car-crash like that and everyone will be sent home immediately. He also added that he would sign up for the tournament again once the vaccine is rolled out.

While admitting the same, the 30-year old also blamed the bio-bubble breach for the spread saying that even though they were travelling inter-city through charter planes but their walk-through terminals, custom checks and social interactions after games might be the reason for infiltration.

Neesham featured in just one game for  the defending champions, which was their last game before the suspension against the Chennai Super Kings where they experienced a jail break owing to hard-hitting Kieron Pollard's unbeaten innings of 87 runs off just 34 balls.

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