The second wave of the COVID-19 in India put a grinding halt to the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (Indian T20), which had reached its halfway point. Few players and supporting staff contracted the virus, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had to postpone the Indian T20 2021 season on May 4.
In a big relief for cricket fans in the country, the BCCI has announced the Indian T20 2021 season will restart in UAE during September-October. The BCCI, who had successfully hosted the Indian T20 13 in the Middle East last year, is hoping to complete the tournament a few weeks before the men’s T20 World Cup.
Schedule
A total of 31 matches, including the three playoffs and the final, remain in the 2021 edition of the Indian T20. The tournament is likely to restart on September 18 or 19 and conclude by October 10. But the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), to begin on August 28, will finish only on September 19. Also, Ashley Giles, the managing director of the England men’s cricket team, made it clear that the England Cricket Board (ECB) will not tweak their schedule for the Indian T20. The revised Indian T20 2021 fixtures are yet to be announced by the BCCI.
Indian T20 2021: The Story So Far
Venues
The BCCI played Indian T20 13 across three venues in the UAE – Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, and Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium was the venue for the three-match T20I series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in March this year. Though the BCCI is yet to release the fixtures, the three stadiums are likely to host the remainder of the Indian T20 2021 fixtures.
Squads
Franchises could make a few changes to their overseas roster as the COVID-19 uncertainties, international fixtures, and the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup could force few players to skip the UAE leg. The likes of AB de Villiers, Chris Lynn, Chris Morris, etc., could feature, while the entire Indian contingent, too, will be available. The BCCI could hold discussions with various cricket boards to release overseas players.
Suraj Jayaswal is a tech freak who keeps himself updated on the latest happenings in the online gaming world. He is also a passionate gamer with deep knowledge in online Rummy, Poker, Call Break, etc.
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