Priya Punia joins team's bio-bubble in Mumbai days after mother's demise

India opening batter Priya Punia has taken a bold stance and has joined the Indian team in Mumbai, days after losing her mother due to COVID-19. Punia’s decision to join the team ahead of its all-format tour to England is laudable considering what the youngster had to go through in the past three days.

The elegant right-hand batter had penned a heartwarming note on her social media handle thanking her mother for the sacrifices she had made for her during her playing days. Punia made her ODI debut for India against South Africa. She made an immediate impact scoring an unbeaten 75 in a tricky run-chase of 165. After that, she got to play six more ODIs where she scored 225 runs at a healthy average of 37.50.

Priya Punia’s promise to her father

“She was doing fine, but after oxygen supply disturbance, her oxygen level dropped, and had to be put on ventilator support. But we couldn’t save her,” Priya’s father Surendra said about his wife as quoted by TOI.

Surendra also urged everyone to be mentally strong during these tough times as India is currently battling the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Life will always test you.” He also revealed that Priya promised him that she would not miss “professional commitment” and would represent India in their all-format tour of England.

Recently, Punia got a Grade C contract from the BCCI and is one of the important players in team India’s scheme of things. With ICC 50 over World Cup scheduled to take place in New Zealand in February 2022, Punia will be hopeful of doing well in the ODIs against England and in Australia where the team will play three ODIs.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had asked the Indian women and men players to assemble in Mumbai on May 19 before their departure to England. It has arranged charter flights for its players and is also conducting COVID-19 tests daily.

India will kick off their England tour on June 16 at Bristol. They will first play a four-day Test a format which they had last played in 2014. After that, the team will play three ODIs and three T20I matches.