This year’s Indian Premier League was always going to be unlike any other. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we witnessed the longest gap between two seasons of the IPL. More importantly, though, the players competing in IPL 2020 lived through the longest break from professional cricket in their careers.
There was a lot to look forward to heading into this season. The extended period away meant players had plenty of time to recover from niggles and be fresh for the start. But there was the other side to the story, too. The part where rustiness creeps in and you struggle to find rhythm. And the first few games have provided ample proof of that.
Kings XI Punjab captain KL Rahul, for one, was refreshingly candid about his fears in the buildup to the tournament in the UAE. Just last month, he reflected on the disturbing thoughts he had about his game during the lockdown.
KL…