The world’s biggest cricketing carnival (after the world cup) and inarguably speaking, the most entertaining T20 league, the Indian Premier League stands dismissed at present. Just how many saw this coming? The 2021 edition, thus far, had already unveiled some strong performances and at a time where much of India found itself locked inside the confines of their homes, it was the IPL 2021 that was being resorted to as the finest form of entertainment in India.
But where it stands at the moment, then not anymore!
The reason? With the COVID count increasing in different parts of the country, with cities like Delhi and Mumbai, and various regions of Rajasthan and Karnataka reporting a strong spike of the second wave, it doesn’t appear as if the IPL 2021 can begin again anytime soon?
But purely from a cricketing point of view, one outfit that would consider it to be worst-hit during this phase of sudden IPL 2021 dismissal would be the Royal Challengers Bangalore, that had registered for the first time in the history of this league four consecutive wins.
Even as, at the time of the IPL dismissal, the Royal Challengers weren’t table toppers, having remained so for nearly a week, the fact that a majority of their players were found in sublime form would hit them hard. Players like Harshal Patel (the purple cap winners for most wickets), opener Devdutt Paddikal who fired his maiden IPL ton, AB de Villiers with his lower-order heroics, and with Glenn Maxwell firmly repaying back the faith of his selectors, this edition saw the RCB on fire.
On the other hand, teams like Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians, two of the strongest outfits in the history of the tournament, were also going on fine song with performances of batsmen like Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, and Rituraj Gaikwad from the CSK camp and belligerent strikers of the ball in Kieron Pollard and Rohit Sharma going so well as seen thus far.
Although, table toppers Delhi Capitals, who under the leadership of mercurial youngster Rishab Pant were right on top, having claimed no fewer than six wins from eight contests would find themselves cut a raw deal with the IPL 2021 getting cancelled.
But then, at the same time, there were quite a few who had already begun to raise the most important question that was holding the IPL in India necessary in the first place, at a juncture where the country was already experiencing one of the harshest times of this global epidemic?
With a genuine dearth of medical oxygen taking centrefold of the national capital in the one hand with there being several casualties being reported from many other prominent Indian cities on the other, perhaps the sense of timing regarding hosting the mega tournament was off the mark, won’t you say?
Meanwhile, here’s what a report from EspnCricinfo had to report on the matter:
In a media statement, the IPL said the decision was “unanimously” taken by the tournament’s Governing Council along with the top brass of the 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,” the statement said. “This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind.
But then another important question at this time comes regarding the safe departure of all foreign cricketers, talents who had participated from regions as far as wide as the West Indies, Australia, England and New Zealand.
What about them?
On that note, a statement from the end of the BCCI shared that the board would, “do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.”
Also Read: Chances Are, If Needed, The T20 World Cup Might Be Shifted To The UAE!
Well, entertaining and short-lived that it was, the IPL 2021 did entertain till the time it lasted, there’s hardly a doubt about that.