IPL 2021: BCCI Likely To Keep Hyderabad As A Back-Up Option As Mumbai Endures Second Wave Of COVID-19

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has pondered over keeping the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad as a backup option for the IPL 2021 as the city of Mumbai is dealing with, in terms of the Maharashtra chief minister,  ‘second wave’ of the covid-19 virus.

Hyderabad is believed to have been kept on stand-by if, not just Mumbai, but any other of the 5 cities as well is not able to host its respective games in the IPL 2021.

According to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, the state could also go under lockdown once again if the situation doesn’t improve.

“Today, I am giving an indication for a complete lockdown, but not announcing it formally. If things do not improve visibly in a couple of days and if no other solution is found, we will have to announce another lockdown like it is being done globally,” said Uddhav Thackeray.

Even if Mumbai undergoes lockdown, however, the BCCI has the state’s assurance that it wouldn’t affect the IPL bubbles, and the tournament will go as planned, according to ESPNcricinfo.

The Wankhede Stadium will host the second game of the season on April 10th between 3-time champions Chennai Super Kings and last season’s runner-ups, Delhi Capitals; 10 matches will be played in Mumbai from April 10th to 25th.

8 groundstaff at Wankhede tested positive; Axar Patel also returned positive result with less than a week for IPL 2021

In what comes as a massive setback for the BCCI and the league, 8 of the 19 groundsmen at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai have returned a positive test for the coronavirus on Friday. However, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has assured that the matches will be conducted as planned. It was reported later that 2 of those who tested positive have already returned negative results.

The entire staff is staying in the Garware Pavilion clubhouse, which is part of the stadium. Those who tested positive have been sent into quarantine and will return into the bubble only after testing negative.

Another massive news and a blow to the Delhi Capitals is that all-rounder Axar Patel has tested positive, after joining the team in Mumbai with a negative report. He returned a positive result on his second testing. Capitals have already lost their skipper, Shreyas Iyer, due to an injury and Rishabh Pant will lead the side.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Alternate Captaincy Options Of All The 8 Teams If Regular Skippers Face Sanctions Or Injuries