The IPL 2021 much-awaited schedule was announced yesterday much to the delight of all the fans. The upcoming IPL season will be played across 6 venues in India between April 9- May 30. The tournament will kick start in Chennai where defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
This season the teams will not be playing their matches at their home ground for the first time in IPL history in India. After the announcement of the IPL 2021 schedule, it is understood that Franchises are not satisfied with the new format of sides playing on neutral venues.
Franchises Not Happy With IPL 2021 Schedule
According to a report, franchises believe that players playing in their home state venues will get a lot of advantage as they will be familiar with the venue. A franchise official added that the scheduling of IPL 2021 could have been better and teams should have played on their home ground as the matches will be played behind closed doors.
“Delhi has players like Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, and skipper Shreyas Iyer who are from Mumbai and the team plays its first three games at the Wankhede. They will have an advantage just as Punjab Kings who have players like KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, and coach Anil Kumble, and they play five games in Bangalore?
“Don’t they have the advantage of being familiar with the conditions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium? The plan can be counter-productive”, a franchise official told Cricbuzz.
Also Read: BCCI Announces Schedule For IPL 2021
Meanwhile, the official pointed out that the legendary MS Dhoni who may be playing his last IPL tournament will not get a chance to played at his beloved home ground in Chennai.
“You are denying MS Dhoni to play his potential last IPL in Chennai. If there are to be no crowds, what stops CSK to play in Chennai and Mumbai Indians to play in Mumbai”, an official asked.
Furthermore, the first half of the tournament will be played behind closed door due to the COVID-19 scare. The new Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the most matches including the IPL 2021 playoffs.
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