IPL 2021: BCCI to shift tournament to Mumbai amid COVID-19 crisis

After many members of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchises tested positive for the deadly Coronavirus. The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) is considering shifting the remaining 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches to Mumbai.

The tournament is hosted currently in Ahmedabad and Delhi. There is also a possibility of the IPL final being moved from May 30 to early June, reported, ESPNCricinfo.

According to the report, the biggest challenge for the BCCI is to create a bio-bubble for all 8 teams in Mumbai and find hotels as well as training facilities where they could stay and practice. In the first leg of the IPL in April, all the three key grounds in Mumbai – Wankhede, DY Patil, and Brabourne – were utilized.

A BCCI official said: “Though nothing is discussed officially as yet, but like this, we have to postpone IPL 2021 as this menace has gripped the entire nation.”

The schedule eventually released, on March 7, had six venues – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Chennai and Mumbai hosted the first leg while the second leg is being played currently in Ahmedabad and Delhi.

On Monday, the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore was rescheduled after KKR Sandeep Warrier and Varun Chakravarthy tested positive for the virus. Five ground staff at Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) also tested positive for the virus and had to be isolated.

Soon after, two members of the Chennai Super Kings tested positive for Covid-19, confirmed on Monday. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan, bowling coach L Balaji and a bus cleaner have also had reportedly tested positive.

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