Arun Dhumal, BCCI, IPL, Rohit Sharma, IPL. IPL 2020
Rohit Sharma receives the IPL trophy from BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Jay Shah. [Photo-IPLT20]

The IPL 2020 was a grand success and against all odds, the extravaganza achieved record-breaking viewership, putting smile across people’s faces amid uncertainties. But it’s a known fact that for the most part of the year, the 13th edition of IPL was not on the cards, making BCCI on the verge of losing millions. The cancellation became nearly apparent when Tennis star Novak Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19.

The BCCI had planned to start the 13th edition of IPL as early as the 29th of March before postponing it to the 15th of April. However, with the explosion of COVID-19 in India along with rapidly surging cases and fatalities, the board deferred it indefinitely. Gradually, every significant sporting event worldwide was beginning to either suffer postponement or cancellation. It was largely uncertain when the cricketing events would resume and would it be the same moving forward if it did.

IPL 2020: News Of Novak Djokovic Testing Positive For COVID-19 Almost Led To The Tournament's Cancellation, Reveals BCCI Treasurer
Novak Djokovic. (Credits: Twitter)

To add to the same, Serbian Tennis player Novak Djokovic turning positive for COVID-19 in June further dented the hopes. Djokovic revealed to have tested positive for the deadly pathogen during his participation in the exhibition matches in Croatia and Serbia. The revelation plunged the sporting world in shock and took it by storm. But the BCCI’s think tank pulled off a stellar IPL event in the UAE that began on the September of 20th and ran till the 10th of November. They battled all the hindrances along the way with the players deserving equal credit for the co-operation.

Many people told us to not go ahead with the IPL: Arun Dhumal

IPL 2020: News Of Novak Djokovic Testing Positive For COVID-19 Almost Led To The Tournament's Cancellation, Reveals BCCI Treasurer
Arun Dhumal. (Credits: Twitter)

BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal revealed that Djokovic testing positive for COVID-19 had put them in two minds as many people warned them not to go ahead with the cash-rich league this year. Dhumal conceded that with the tournament running for two months, things could turn chaotic if any player contracts the disease. It was the secretary Jay Shah, who asserted that they should conduct the competition and Dhumal claimed he was the most confident of the lot.

After that report (about Djokovic testing positive) came in, we were in two minds. Many people told us to not go ahead with it (IPL). What if something happens to a player? The IPL would go on for almost three months. However, Jay said we should go ahead, he was more confident than all of us,” Dhumal stated as quoted by the Indian Express.

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