Now, ‘antivirus’ uniforms for IPL

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 30

The pandemic has impacted everything and sports is no exception. Already, several tournaments have either been cancelled or delayed because of the pandemic and Indian Premier League (IPL) is no different.

Preparations, however, are on full swing to start the IPL in a safe manner and the city, too, has been instrumental in contributing for the same. For the first time, antivirus uniforms are being made in Jalandhar for Indian Premier League (IPL), which is likely to start on September 13. TK Sports Pvt Ltd is making the uniform for players of Hyderabad Sunrisers to ensure proper protection.

Rajan Kohli, MD of the firm, said looking at the present situation, a pact was made with a Sweden-based company. “We are using their antivirus chemical that kills 99.9 per cent viruses. So, after doing research, we got in contact with the company and then the work was started. Everything else is the same, the only thing that we have added is the chemical and protection from the virus is the need of the hour,” Kohli said.

The company has been preparing kits for IPL for the last eight years. “Earlier, we used to work with Kings XI Punjab, but we have been preparing uniforms for Hyderabad Sunrisers for the last four years,” he said.

“Apart from this, we have also made helmets which will be worn by players in the IPL. These are light weight helmets and we have made it for the first time,” he said.

Jalandhar is known as a sports hub and another sports unit in the city had also come to limelight during the 2019 World Cup, when locally made bats were used by MS Dhoni, one of the star cricketers in the Indian team. A special bat was made for him for the World Cup that weighed around 1,160 to 1,180 gm. The wood was English Willow. The toe guard of the bat which Dhoni had used was round in shape.