IPL 2021: BCCI planning to shift remaining games in Mumbai as COVID-19 rocks IPL – Report

IPL caravan might shift to Mumbai over the weekend.

Wankhede Stadium hosted the first leg of the IPL 2021 | BCCI/IPLAfter COVID-19 cases emerged in the KKR and CSK camp on Monday (May 3), the BCCI is seriously pondering the idea of shifting the remaining IPL 2021 games to Mumbai.

According to a report published in ESPNcricinfo, the IPL caravan could shift to Mumbai over the weekend and it would mean that Kolkata and Bangalore, the two venues for the final leg of the league stage, won’t get a chance to host matches this season.

See Also: DC contingent isolating in the wake of COVID-19 cases at KKR camp – Report

For now, only one or two doubleheaders are held every week in the IPL 2021 but the board might have to tweak the fixtures, putting more double-headers in place to finish the tournament on time.

While rescheduling remains a complex task, the biggest obstacle that lies in front of the BCCI is to create a bio-bubble, where all 8 teams can safely stay and practice.

Notably, all three stadiums in Mumbai – Wankhede, DY Patil, and Brabourne – are in good shape. While Wankhede hosted the first leg of the lucrative league, the other two venues were often used for training sessions.

It is understood that the BCCI officials are already working to sort out the logistical challenges. The board apparently made calls to the top hotels in Mumbai on Monday to find out their availability and how efficiently they could execute the SOPs needed to create the bubble.

The development comes after two players at KKR, Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, tested positive for COVID-19, leading to IPL rescheduling Monday’s match between KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The reports of two COVID-19 positive cases also emerged from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp on Monday evening. It is believed that bowling coach L Balaji was one of the two CSK members to test positive for COVID-19, along with a bus cleaner.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 04 May, 2021

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