The 2020 IPL season is set to launch on March 29th at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where the Mumbai Indians will take on the Chennai Super Kings in the season opener. At the same time, the spreading concern over COVID-19 in India has led many to wonder if the tournament should actually take place as planned.
The Indian Premier League 2020 is to begin on March 29th at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, and Chennai Super Kings face Mumbai Indians in the first game of season 13th IPL matches. Meanwhile, COVID-19 buzz in India had raised questions about the IPL matches being conducted on the mentioned dates.
With 60 recorded COVID-19 cases in the country, some state authorities have suggested pushing back the 2020 IPL matches. This is a complex issue because the league is a financial powerhouse, generating immense profit for everyone from corporate sponsors and organizers to online betting sites. The situation in Karnataka is especially worrying due to its high casualty rate, which has made the upcoming game between the Bangalore and Kolkata franchises a point of serious contention.
Brijesh Patel, a representative of the BCCI, pointed out that the ODI series beginning March 12th saw huge attendance in Maharashtra, suggesting that things are still under control. He clarified that the board isn't looking for alternatives unless the central government issues a specific mandate regarding the series between the Indian national team and South Africa. For now, the BCCI intends to stick to the calendar. However, if the situation worsens, the board may relocate matches to cities that remain unaffected by the virus to ensure the 2020 season can still happen.