KKR Captain Eoin Morgan Confirms His Availability For The UAE Leg Of IPL 2021

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan has confirmed his availability for the second half of the IPL 2021, to be played in the UAE from September 19. This development comes as a result of the postponement of England’s limited-overs tour to Bangladesh.

England were due to play three ODIs and three T20Is in Bangladesh in September-October, which would have clashed with the IPL schedule. But now after a mutual decision between the ECB and the BCB that tour is postponed until March 2023.

The postponement of the tour to Bangladesh opens up the window for the English players to participate in the second phase of the IPL 2021, after earlier the ECB stating that their players won’t be allowed to do so.

I think it was a win-win either way: Eoin Morgan

“It’s a complete individual decision. I think it was a win-win either way. If we went to Bangladesh we’d play in conditions that are foreign to us. If some guys go to the IPL, they’ll play in similar conditions [to the World Cup] or for guys that need a rest, they take a rest,” Eoin Morgan said on Tuesday after London Spirit’s game against Northern Superchargers in the Hundred.

“We’ve a lot of cricket to play between now and then. We’ve planned on the tour going ahead – that’s been part of our planning for a long time now – but equally, given the nature in which we now compete and live our lives, it’s not a bad thing for guys to either take time off or go to the IPL if they feel refreshed and have enough energy,” the England white-ball captain added.

The Knight Riders have had a bumpy road so far in the tournament with just 2 wins in 7 matches and are languishing at the 7th position on the points table. Their first match on return would be against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on September 20 in Abu Dhabi.