The havoc created by the virus seems to have an unimaginable impact on cricket.
With the cancellation of numerous ongoing cricket tournaments, speculations arise on the future of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League, which is scheduled to take place on the 15th of April. The tournament which was initially scheduled for the 29th of March had to be deferred due to the outbreak.
With the Indian government announcing a 21-day national lockdown that ends on the April 14, the BCCI will have no choice but to further delay the tournament. The future of the cash-rich league remains uncertain, though it is still too early for predictions.
While it is true that the BCCI will want to do everything in its power to make the tournament happen, it looks daunting with time running out of hand.
As the BCCI is bound to miss the April deadline, a hope for a full version of the tournament looks to be diminishing. However, there are a few contingency plans that the BCCI is eager to implement.
The first one being the trimmed version of the original IPL. Even at the best-case scenario, the BCCI is looking for somewhere around early May in starting the tournament, which therefore makes it impossible for a full-fledged version. In a trimmed version each team encounters every other exactly once as opposed to twice, in the league stages making it 28 in total.
The BCCI would be really lucky if it could sneak in a shortened version of the IPL in the midst of the pandemic.
In a press release, the BCCI also expressed their desire to conduct the tournament in the July-August bracket. The BCCI is looking for a window in the July and August period as a backup if things go south in May.
However, the biggest concern during that period would be the unavailability of key foreign players including the likes of Daivd Warner and Steve Smith, who are the captains of their respective franchises.
The third and final alternative would be to abandon the tournament.
With the pandemic accelerating, the cancellation of the tournament looks inevitable. The cancellation of the IPL will have severe economic impacts.
It would also close doors for veterans like Suresh Raina, who are itching to make a comeback into the national squad before the T20 World Cup. It will also make it difficult for MS Dhoni, who is banking on the IPL to make it into the T20 World Cup Squad.
As the future of the tournament remains uncertain, we will just have to wait and watch as only time can give us the exact outcome.
peter ostle
Guest
I hope the IPL goes ahead in a shorter version, as I think it has become too long in recent years. I agree this will benefit the lesser lights of cricketers in India. The issue of overseas players will be interesting as this will mean some will have to decide either to play for their country or in the IPL. The money on offer from the latter may make some forgo international cricket, this will be especially true of West Indies cricketers. Some may note Sunil Narine on WI tours to England and his participation in the IPL. Also, the foreign players may have issues about trusting the Indian authorities on how they have, or are dealing with COVID-19. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=India+coronavirus for recent reports. I think the IPL this year may decide it will be better to have a purely all Indian affair. It will be good PR both in India and the wider cricket world.
Muhammad Nouman
Roar Pro
I don't think so IPL is gonna be happening because if they want to play in July/August window then it would be difficult to bring their overseas players. In July/August, English summer will be at its peak and two teams will be touring England and West Indies players will be busy playing their CPL who are the main players of IPL so it looks impossible which as a cricket fan makes me disappointed.
Suraj
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more Paul.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Overseas player availability is a major problem I'd say. Smith, Warner, Cummins etc are supposed to be playing for Australia in England in July but whether that goes ahead is anyone's guess atm. I'm not at all sure about other countries schedules but July/August is peak cricket season in the northern hemisphere so it's very likely that most will have engagements scheduled around that time.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi BVNS, thanks for putting in this piece. I think there's a critical issue that many of us in Australia forget, when the IPL is mentioned. Most focus on the big names and the huge dollars these greats of the game can make. We forget though, that there are lesser known Indian players who make up these squads, for whom this tournament is super important, not only for the money they can make, but it offers a chance to put them up in front of the Indian selectors and perhaps breaking into the national squad. I'm not a fan of T20, but I hope the IPL does go ahead at some stage this year, if for no other reason than giving the guys I mentioned a chance to play. Perhaps the next Kohli, Dhoni or Bumrah could be missing out on a chance to shine, if this tournament is cancelled.