The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will go as per the schedule despite the glaring rise in the COVID-19 cases all across the country in the last couple of days. IPL 2021 is scheduled to commence on April 9 with defending champions Mumbai Indians locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Meanwhile, there has been a late surge in the COVID-19 cases in the country which has raised doubts over the upcoming T20 extravaganza. Mumbai, which is one of the six venues that will host IPL 2021 matches, have gone into a partial lockdown after a massive surge in the state. A couple of ground staff at the Wankhede Stadium has also tested positive for COVID-19 along with cricketers like Devdutt Padikkal and Axar Patel.
IPL 2021 to go as per the schedule – Sourav Ganguly
Amid all the tensions, Sourav Ganguly has asserted that the tournament will go as per the schedule despite the partial lockdown in the state of Maharashtra.
“Everything will go on as per schedule,” Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying in Times Now.
Amid the lockdown in the state, Mumbai is set to host 10 IPL matches from April 10 to April 25. But prior to the tournament, the BCCI has found itself in a bit of a fix as ground staff members at the iconic Wankhede Stadium have been tested positive for COVID-19. Four franchises- Rajasthan Royals (RR), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Delhi Capitals (DC), and MI- are based in Mumbai.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are also based in Mumbai, but they will move to Chennai to play their first game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 11.
The finals of IPL 2021 will take place on May 30 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.