Defending champions Mumbai Indians are planning to rent an entire apartment for their players and support staffs for IPL 2020 in the UAE. Meanwhile, the preparations have already started soon after BCCI confirmed that September 19 will mark the start of the 13th edition of the tournament.
This is the second time after 2009 that an entire IPL will take place outside India. There has been a constant spike in the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country. As a result, the IPL Governing Council and BCCI decided to take the tournament abroad. Earlier in 2014, UAE hosted 20 games due to the general elections in India.
Mumbai Indians to rent an entire apartment for IPL 2020
Previously, BCCI had to postpone the tournament twice in the wake of the pandemic. Initially, the cash-rich league was scheduled to commence from March 29. Meanwhile, as per a Times of India report, Sunrisers Hyderabad have begun conversations with golf resorts while Mumbai Indians are likely to rent an apartment complex for the entire season. On the other hand, other franchises are planning to rent villas to stay for the duration of IPL 2020.
It also states that the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders might have their training camps in Dubai. The matches will take place behind closed doors and the players will remain in a bio-secure bubble. The cricketers will undergo COVID-19 test every five days to keep everyone safe.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians enter the tournament as the defending champions as they beat Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2019 final. The Rohit Sharma-led franchise kept their nerves in a nail-biting encounter to lift their fourth title – the most by a team. Mumbai won their first title in 2013 beating Chennai and emulated the same in 2019.
