The 14th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) which was held in India earlier this year was suspended owing to COVID-19 situation in the country. But since the announcement of second-leg of IPL 2021, franchises have been trying to make travel arrangements to UAE.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) is one of them as a source in the know of developments revealed that Mumbai-based franchise is keen to land in Dubai on Friday and is waiting for landing permission.

“The team is awaiting the landing permission from the UAE government just like CSK and once they get that, they also wish to land in Dubai on Friday. It will be a bubble-to-bubble transfer for MI, but they will still undergo quarantine as per protocols once in UAE. It is bubble-to-bubble because the boys are already in a bubble and training in Mumbai,” the source told ANI.

IPL 2021: Stringent cut-off times for innings affecting quality of the games- MI coach Jayawardena

The MI unit has been training at their ground in Ghansoli, the Reliance Corporate Park. According to sources, the MI domestic players have been training for the last two weeks after undergoing quarantine.

It is also learnt that Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians that won the 2020 edition of the tournament in UAE, will be staying at the same hotels they used during IPL 2020 along with Kolkata Knight Riders while all the other six franchises will stay at new hotels.

The defending champions will be taking on three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the opening game of this UAE-leg of the tournament on September 19.

(With ANI Inputs)