IPL 2021: Pat Cummins reveals why he chose to donate to PM CARES Fund and not any other fundraising platform

Pat Cummins, the Australian fast bowler, recently donated $50,000 to help India fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The speedster, who’s currently playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL), has now revealed the reasons for making the donations to the PM-Cares Fund, an initiative by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The heartfelt gesture has garnered Cummins with loads of accolades from the cricket fraternity and the common people. The netizens also hailed him as a ‘hero’ for his contributions. The pacer stated that by donating the money he tried to follow the footsteps of the Knights and their co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.

Pat Cummins opens up

“I was just chatting to a couple of guys here at KKR, they have been really generous in their donations to the PM CARES fund over the last year or so. Shah Rukh donated himself here that suggests the way to go,” Cummins was quoted as saying to WION’s Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay.

“There are a few people back home in Australia who are keen to help India so we might set up something in the next few days to direct a few more resources to charity here,” he stated.

Cummins also hopes to bring joy to the people of India, who are grappling their way through the pandemic. After he came forward with his helping hand, former Aussie seamer Brett Lee and KKR batsman made donations as well.

“I don’t think so. We are doing everything we don’t take any resources from the frontline. There is an aspect that us playing for three or four hours hopefully contributes to making people stay at home. It has certainly been a big topic of conversation as to how we can help,” he added.

The second wave of the pandemic has made sure that nearly three lakh cases are being recorded on a daily basis. The people have been straining to find hospital beds and oxygen cylinders.

As far as Cummins is concerned, he is currently the leading wicket-taker for KKR with nine wickets from seven games. He also has a top score of an unbeaten 66 against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Mumbai.