Australian fast bowler and currently a part of the Mumbai Indians squad in the ongoing IPL Nathan Coulter-Nile has decided to be part of the MI bio-bubble despite some of his national teammates leaving the tournament midway. The second wave of COVID-19 is creating a ruckus in the country with a record number of cases each day.
While players like Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa and Andrew Tye has decided to leave the tournament midway, Coulter-Nile feels it safer for him to be part of the Mumbai Indians bio-bubble. Tye had returned home fearing that he may be “locked out” of his own country due to the massive surge of the deadly virus.
Coulter-Nile who is yet to get a game for the MI this season was bought by the defending champions for Rs 5 crores in the February auction. Coulter-Nile was surprised to see three of his countrymen leaving midway through the tournament.
"Everyone's got their own opinions on it and different situations for them," Coulter-Nile told cricket.com.au.
"I was surprised to see AJ go home, and then Zamps and Richo, but when you speak to them, you definitely understand where they're coming from. I spoke to Zamps a little while ago and he made a very compelling argument for going home. But for me, I feel like it's safer for me to stay in the bubble than try and get home at the moment," he added.
Meanwhile, there are several Australian players plying their trade in the ongoing IPL. While David Warner is leading the Sunrisers Hyderabad, players like Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins and Steve Smith are also part of the tournament. It will be interesting to see if they also follow the same path of their three other countrymen in the next few days.
"...I feel like something's got to give for getting home. I'm just going to wait and see how that plays out."
"Worst comes to worst, we'll have to quarantine in Dubai for a couple of weeks before we can fly home. But I'm sure it will get sorted," said Coulter-Nile.
Coulter-Nile is regularly tested three times a day. The fast bowler said that he has astute faith in the bio-bubble created by the Mumbai Indians for the IPL.
"We have a rapid response test in the morning ahead of another test later in the day, and then one at night as well. And that's for everyone players, staff, the people who do laundry, cleaners, everyone," he further added.
"In terms of testing, they are pretty onto it. I'm as confident (in the bubble) as you can be. All the protocols and measures are in place, I can't think of anything more we could be doing. As long as everyone follows them that's the hardest bit, there's a lot of moving parts but if everyone does the right thing, we should be fine," concluded Coulter-Nile.