T20 Mumbai

For pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, staying calm and spending time with the family is the need of the hour amid the national lockdown enforced due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Holed up in his house as the world grapples the pandemic, the 31-year-old cricketer is making the most of his time indoors, patiently waiting to get back to his day job.

"It's been a difficult time but we all have to be patient and I am really looking forward to getting back on the field and get back to cricket," he said in a session streamed by T20 Mumbai on its Facebook page.

"At the same time, we have to follow the rules and it's important to maintain social distancing if we have to win this war against the virus. Hopefully, this corona thing will be over soon."

In the video, the Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs captain from Season 2 in T20 Mumbai also gave a look into how his daily routine at home has been, far from the hectic life he lives as a cricketer.

"I get up early in the morning, freshen up and straightaway go and do my yoga for 10-15 minutes," he said. "It gives me mental peace, and during such times or in life, mental peace is really important."

From one peaceful activity, he segues smoothly into the next. Turned father earlier this year, it has given him the opportunity to bond with his two-month-old daughter Nitara.

"I have been fortunate to see her grow and I am really loving the time I get to spend with her," he said.

However, like everyone else, Dhawal Kulkarni lends a hand in household chores as well.

"So I do jhadoo and poccha (sweeping and wiping) every day," he revealed. "After that I go and help my wife (Shraddha) in cooking food, if needed.

"After lunch, we watch movies on Netflix or we play board games," he added.

Being an athlete, Dhawal Kulkarni also ensures that he maintains his fitness and keep himself ready should the situation ease up and life returns to normal.

"I don't like to miss my daily routine," he pointed out. "So, I give myself an hour and a half to finish all the exercises."

Dhawal Kulkarni led one of the two new teams in T20 Mumbai last season and led them to the semi-final. He led from the front in the campaign by picking up six wickets and even scoring a fifty.