The future of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League hangs by the wire since the outbreak of the coronavirus. BCCI is currently awaiting ICC’s decision on the T20 World Cup to decide on their future.
Meanwhile, the 13th season of the T20 blitz was scheduled to commence from March 29. However, BCCI had to postpone it to April 14 after the first lockdown. And with no signs of improvement and the lockdown extended, the Sourav Ganguly-led panel had to defer the tournament for an indefinite period.
IPL 2020 to start from September 26
Ganguly recently said that they are considering every option to host IPL 2020. And now, with Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings confirming that hosting T20 World Cup looks unrealistic, the hope has once reinstalled. A recent report in Mumbai Mirror suggests that BCCI is planning to start the tournament from September 26.
“It (IPL) will be between September-end and November-start, more specifically it could be from September 26 to November 8. These dates are subject to the expected postponement/cancellation of the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia,” a report in Mumbai Mirror read.
With an expected start in September, reports said most of the matches will take place in the southern parts of India. It is due to the less effect of monsoon in those parts. Mumbai and Bangalore were the first two choices to host IPL 2020.
But with the massive number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, it looks unlikely. However, if the situation improves, BCCI can shift the tournament to the financial capital of India.
“Mumbai was to be BCCI’s first choice given the infrastructure, four international stadiums, hotels in close proximity and connectivity. But the proliferating number of COVID cases is discouraging the IPL managers.
“Should it be Karnataka or Tamil Nadu (another state where COVID cases are many), the IPL could be staged at the TNPL or KPL venues,” the report further added.
