IPL hopes to match UAE success on India return

The organisers of the Indian Premier League are confident they will be able to match the success of last season, when it was staged in the UAE, after announcing the schedule for the 2021 campaign.

After being relocated to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah due to Covid issues back at home, the 2020 IPL was deemed an unqualified success.

Despite that, the organisers were intent on returning the event to its homeland for the new season.

Plans to counter the continuing effects of the pandemic initially included staging the whole season at four grounds in Mumbai.

When that was ruled out by a spike in cases in that city, the idea of a return to the UAE was mooted. Sharjah Cricket Stadium, for example, has relaid its centre wickets on the outside chance the competition was going to return to the emirates.

However, it was confirmed yesterday the season will start on April 9 in Chennai with a fixture between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata will also host fixtures.

“The fixtures of the tournament have been mapped in a way that every team will travel only three times during the league stage, thus reducing commute and minimising risk,” Jay Shah, the Indian board secretary, said in a statement.

Each team will play at four neutral venues. The league stages will initially be held behind closed doors. The playoffs and final will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket ground.