MP batsman Aryaman Birla coping with severe anxiety related to sport, takes break

New Delhi [India], Dec 20 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh's batsman Aryaman Birla on Friday announced that he is taking an indefinite break from cricket, citing "severe anxiety related to the sport" as the primary reason.

Aryaman released a statement on Instagram and said: "It has been a journey of hard work, dedication and immense courage to get to this point in my cricket career. I have been coping with severe anxiety related to the sport for a while now".

"I have felt trapped. I have pushed myself through all the distress so far, but now I feel the need to put my mental health and wellbeing above else. So I have decided to take an undefined sabbatical from cricket," he added.

Aryaman is the son of famous industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla. The cricketer has also been a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals for two seasons and he was released ahead of the auction which was conducted yesterday.

"This phase has been difficult, but it has also helped me realise who my real friends and well-wishers are. I truly believe I will emerge from this phase even stronger than before," Aryaman wrote in his post.

Aryaman has played nine first-class matches so far in his career and has the highest score of 103 runs.

He had made his first-class debut in 2017 against Odisha at Indore. Aryaman last played a match in January this year against Andhra Pradesh.