It's always difficult to withdraw from a competition like the IPL: Kane Richardson

Australian pacer Kane Richardson had to back off from IPL 2020 season owing to the expected birth of his first child back home. Richardson said that the decision to withdraw from the cash-rich league was very hard for him, but he couldn’t have afforded to miss the special moment of birth of his child with his beloved wife, Nyki. The pacer was roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping Rs 4 crore at the IPL auction last year.

The 29-year-old will move to his wife in Adelaide after completing his quarantine period in England, where Kangaroos are set to locks horns with the hosts in series of 3 T20Is and as many ODIs from September 4. Youngster and compatriot Adam Zampa was taken in to replace him after news of Richardson’s pullout was confirmed on August 31.

“It’s always difficult to withdraw from a competition like the IPL, it’s the pinnacle domestic competition in the world so, it wasn’t an easy decision, but when I sat down and thought about it, it was definitely the right one.

“With all that’s going on in the world at the moment and the challenge of getting home on time for something as unpredictable as the birth of a child, I couldn’t risk missing that,” said Richardson as quoted by India Today.

The pacer emphasised the fact that birth of his first child is going to be a special moment for him, and in this period, he wants to extend his full support to his wife.

I’m disappointed to miss the IPL : Richardson

“I’m disappointed to miss the IPL, but hopefully there are opportunities ahead for that. I don’t think I’d be able to live with missing the birth of my first child, I can be home and support my wife as best I can, and hopefully, those (cricket) opportunities come around again.”

RCB’s director Mike Hesson also said that he was disappointed that Kane missed out since he was on top of his game. Kane has performed consistently for the Melbourne Renegades after which he made his comeback to the national team.