India’s most efficacious, exciting and lucrative sports competition India Premier League (IPL) which is also known for its huge fan base and for being the toughest domestic cricket championship in the world has now seen a hit due to the increase in COVID-19 related deaths all over the country.
Despite the withdrawal of several high-profile players and demands for a postponement of the league, the IPL, which signs all the big names in the game around the world for a hefty contract, had entered its fourth week of play.
Last year when the situation was critical the league was postponed but despite being in the same or much worse condition this year, the league continued. On May 3, 2021, the match which was to be played among Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders was rescheduled to a further date as two of the players from Kolkata Knight Riders were tested positive for COVID-19.
Recently the news is been out that the whole season of IPL is going to be rescheduled. “The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously postponed IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect,” said BCCI. “The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. They took this decision keeping the safety, health and well-being of all the stakeholders in mind.”
The BCCI has announced a temporary stop to the premier league till further notifications regarding the same.
Talking about the games played in IPL till now for the present year, 29 out of 56 league games that were scheduled has been played. The last game was played between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. Shikhar Dhawan and Harshal Patel currently hold orange and purple caps with them, respectively.
According to some people, all the teams were taking precautions of themselves and the league has helped them with mental relief in this critical time. However, BCCI no more wants to risk any player’s life any further and therefore the league will now start once things get back in control.