![\"\u2018I\u2019ll](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130780993,imgsize-33670,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/mark-wood.jpg\" "\\"Mark")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nEngland fast bowler Mark Wood has shared a remarkable and humorous story from his time in the Indian Premier League, revealing how a franchise owner once offered to fly him on a private jet just to ensure he played a match \u2014 despite being seriously unwell.Speaking on BBC\u2019s Strategic Timeout podcast, Wood recalled falling ill midway through a season after featuring in a handful of matches. What followed, he said, was an extraordinary level of attention from the franchise, including constant medical monitoring.\u201cI wasn’t very well after about five games, and the (next) game was in about three days’ time. Every half an hour, the doctor would stay back, come to my room, check on my vitals,\u201d Wood said.The situation soon took an unusual turn when the team owner personally reached out to check on his availability.\u201cI remember one day the owner ringing me, \u2018How\u2019re you feeling? Ready to go?\u2019 and I said, \u2018Honestly, I’ve eaten and drunk nothing, I still can’t get out of bed\u2019. He went, \u2018We\u2019ll get you another doctor, we\u2019ll do this and that\u2019,\u201d he revealed.\u2018I\u2019ll send a private plane\u2019<\/span>Despite Wood\u2019s condition, the owner remained determined to have him feature in the game \u2014 so much so that he offered an eye-popping solution.\u201cNext day, it\u2019s the owner again, \u2018How are you feeling?\u2019 and I said, \u2018Honestly, I\u2019m still not good\u2019. He then said, \u2018I\u2019ll send a private plane, you get in the plane, play the game. Then I\u2019ll get the plane straight back out and get you back to your bedside\u2019,\u201d Wood said, laughing at the memory.The England pacer admitted he was briefly tempted by the surreal offer and even sought advice from his father.\u201cSo I rang my dad and I was like, \u2018Dad, they\u2019re going to send a private plane.\u2019 He was like, \u2018Yeah, but how do you feel?\u2019 I said, \u2018Honestly, if I stand up, I feel not well\u2026 I could faint\u2019. He said, \u2018You\u2019re not right\u2019. But I was like, \u2018Dad, it\u2019s a private plane\u2019 (laughs),\u201d Wood added.Ultimately, he decided against playing, but not before appreciating the sheer novelty of the situation.\u201cFor that split second, I was like, \u2018This is the coolest thing that\u2019s probably ever happened to me in my life. This is unbelievable\u2019,\u201d he said.Wood has had a brief IPL career, featuring for Chennai Super Kings<\/a> and Lucknow Super Giants, taking 11 wickets in five games.<\/div>\n