Cricket Scandals: Who Was Responsible for the Suspension of IPL 2021 Due to Covid-19?
When Covid-19 hit the world, everything came to a standstill as the countries went into lockdown, people stayed home, and life changed completely and the impact of the virus was felt everywhere, and the world was forced into quarantine. But even in such tough times, the BCCI and the IPL governing council decided to go ahead with the tournament and the 14th season of the Indian Premier League was set to begin on 9th April 2021, and cricket fans were excited to finally see some live action.
As the tournament kicked off, the excitement returned and as Stadiums were empty, but the matches brought smiles back to millions watching from home. Despite strict bio-bubble rules and safety measures, some COVID-19 cases were reported inside the team camps and hence the tournament was suspended. But, do you know the full story behind the suspension?
Start of the IPL 2021
With the arrival of the 2021 season, the Indian Premier League (IPL) made an exciting return to India after being held in the UAE in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. As the situation began to improve, the IPL Governing Council confirmed that the tournament would be held across six major Indian cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Fans were thrilled to see the action return to Indian grounds, even though matches were played behind closed doors for safety reasons.
IPL 2021 schedule announced:
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 7, 2021
Cricket fans right now👇#IPL2021 #IPL #Cricket pic.twitter.com/XgEdvWQ9Mg
The season began on April 9, 2021, with the league stage featuring a total of 56 matches. Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata hosted 10 matches each, while Delhi and Ahmedabad hosted 8 matches each. One of the major changes this time was that no team was allowed to play at its home ground. Every team played their matches at neutral venues, with each team featuring in four out of the six cities during the league phase.
The grand finale was scheduled for May 30, 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic, fans had to watch the matches from home as stadiums remained closed to the public. To ensure the safety of players and staff, strict bio-bubble environments were maintained, and all health protocols were followed throughout the tournament.
What Really Happened Midway Through IPL 2021?
Till the match 29 of the IPL 2021, everything was going fine for the fans as well as the players, who were witnessing some of the most exciting games of the season. The tournament, which began on April 9, 2021, was being held in India across six cities under strict bio-bubble protocols due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. However, things took a serious turn in early May when multiple COVID-19 cases were reported among players and support staff, raising major concerns about the safety of everyone involved.
The first major alarm came when Kolkata Knight Riders’ spinner Varun Chakravarthy and pacer Sandeep Warrier tested positive. This led to the postponement of their scheduled game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad. Soon after, more troubling news surfaced. Delhi Capitals’ senior player Amit Mishra and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s wicket keeper Wriddhiman Saha also tested positive for the virus. The cases started to spread within the camps, which created panic among teams and officials.
Barring Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, the rest of the the Knight Riders contingent's tests came out clear #IPL2021
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 3, 2021
Even Chennai Super Kings, one of the most experienced teams in the tournament, was not spared. Their bowling coach Laxmipathy Balaji and a member of the team’s transport staff tested positive as well. Although CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan’s second COVID test came back negative, the virus had already made its way inside the tightly monitored bubble.
In response to the rising number of cases, the BCCI held an emergency meeting with the IPL Governing Council.
After much discussion and keeping the safety of players, staff, and everyone involved as a top priority, the decision was made to suspend the tournament indefinitely. In their official statement, the BCCI clearly stated that they did not want to take any risk to the health and well-being of players and others involved in the league. They emphasized that these were tough times for India, and returning to families was more important than continuing the tournament. BCCI stated:
The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect. The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind. These are difficult times, especially in India and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times.
BREAKING: IPL 2021 suspended indefinitely. #IPL
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 4, 2021
Players from overseas also began to leave the tournament early due to safety concerns. Australia’s Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson, and AJ Tye flew back home citing rising COVID-19 fears. England’s Liam Livingstone also left the bubble, saying he was dealing with bubble fatigue. Meanwhile, India’s experienced spinner R. Ashwin decided to take a break from the tournament on April 25 to support his family during the crisis.
🚨 OFFICIAL STATEMENT 🚨
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) May 4, 2021
Delhi Capitals leg spinner Amit Mishra has tested positive for COVID-19. He has been moved to a designated medical care facility, as per BCCI & IPL guidelines. pic.twitter.com/Dp5eZHuBBZ
The BCCI assured that they would do everything possible to ensure the safe travel and return of all foreign players and support staff. They also expressed gratitude to healthcare workers, franchises, sponsors, and all service providers for trying their best to make the tournament happen despite the challenges. Eventually, after 29 matches had been played, IPL 2021 was officially suspended in May 2021. It was a difficult but necessary call in light of the growing COVID-19 crisis across the country. They further stated that:
The BCCI will do everything in its power to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021. The BCCI would like to thank all the healthcare workers, state associations, players, support staff, franchises, sponsors, partners and all the service providers who have tried their best to organise IPL 2021 even in these extremely difficult times.
However, cricket fans didn’t have to wait too long for the action to return. The remaining part of the tournament was shifted to the UAE, where the situation was more under control. IPL 2021 resumed in the UAE on September 19, 2021, giving fans a chance to enjoy the rest of the season in a much safer environment.
Comments