According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, this year's auction is the last small one before franchises disband next year and prepare to assemble fresh squads from 2021.
In 2018, the last big auction took place in January when franchises were allowed to retain five players before building new squads.
The trading window for all the eight franchises will close on November 14.
For the upcoming edition, all the franchises were originally allotted Rs 85 crore to build their teams. However, every franchise will also have an additional budget of Rs 3 crore in addition to the balance in their kitties from the last auction.
According to the report, Delhi Capitals have the biggest balance of Rs 8.2 crore, followed by Rajasthan Royals (Rs 7.15 crore), Kolkata Knight Riders (Rs 6.05 crore), Sunrisers Hyderabad (Rs 5.3 crore), Kings XI Punjab (Rs 3.7 crore), Chennai Super Kings (Rs 3.2 crore), Mumbai Indians (Rs 3.05 crore) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (Rs 1.8 crore).
Speaking to IANS, new coach Andrew McDonald confirmed the same and said that he was looking to work together with the former Australia skipper and take RR to greater heights.
"I think Steve Smith is the logical choice after the season last year as he stepped in halfway through and we saw a real spark in the performance from the team aspect. I think continuity is important from the point of view of captaincy. He has got an understanding of how players go about it on the field and understand how the bowlers think. I think it is critical to have a captain who understands the players that he is working with.
"Has also had a great time with the Australian team as well. He has been there under pressure and done it before. Really looking forward to working with him. Haven't had the opportunity to work with him at this level, really looking forward to that. Have had a few initial conversations with him, he will be our captain for the season," he said.
With Rahane's removal as skipper creating quite some noise among fans and scribes, RR had said: "Rahane, someone who embodies all the qualities you'd expect from a Rajasthan Royals player, took the reins for our first few games, allowing Smith to settle in. We did not have a great start to the season, but our skipper was in good form, scoring a sublime 70 against SRH and providing a strong start during a successful chase against MI in Mumbai.
"Keeping Ajinkya's role as a successful opener for the team in mind and to release him of captaincy pressures, Smith was made captain before our home game against MI. The two continued to take leadership calls, and Rahane continued to score runs, including a majestic hundred against Delhi Capitals. The team got back to winning ways."
Interestingly, RR have this season released Rahane and the India player will now be turning up for Delhi Capitals in the next edition of the IPL.
Cricket experts such as Dean Jones will be back with Daren Ganga, who is said to make his commentary debut along with former Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody. They will be joined by Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra on the Hindi feed. Sanjay Bangar and Ian Bishop would join the live feed from Kolkata.
Star Sports also launched the third edition of IPL Election Se Selection as a lead up to the player auction. IPL Election Se Selection gives fans an opportunity to show off their IPL expertise and vote which team will end up picking from the select 10 players.
Catch all the action of the IPL 2020 auctions on December 19 from 2.30 PM on Star Sports 1 Hindi/1 HD Hindi, Star Sports First, 1 Tamil, 1 Telugu, 1 Kannada, 1 Bangla; and from 3.20 PM on "Select Dugout Auction Special" on Select 1/1 HD and Hotstar.
(IANS)
Morgan, who has played for KKR before, had a base price of Rs1.50 crore. The men in purple had to stave off stiff competition from Delhi Capitals who were also interested in the swashbuckling southpaw.
Morgan was second to go in the first set of players of the 13th auction where Chris Lynn, who was released by KKR, was roped in by Mumbai Indians for his base price of 2 crores without any bid.
Robin Uthappa, another player KKR did not want to keep, went to Rajasthan Royals for 3 crores while England opener Jason Roy was snapped up by Delhi Capitals for 1.5 crores.
Then came Finch, who did not play in the 2019 IPL, and RCB were locked in a bidding war with KKR. The Virat Kohli led franchise finally wrapped up the deal for 4.40 crore.
India's Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari went unsold.
(IANS)
Speaking to IANS, a Delhi Capitals official said that the starting date is set to be March 29 with defending champions MI playing the opener at Wankhede.
"I am told that the 2020 edition of the IPL will start on March 29 at Wankhede," the official said.
This means that the teams playing the first couple of games will miss the services of the Australian, English and Kiwi foreign recruits as there will be two international series on at that point in time with Australia and New Zealand clashing in a T20I series that has the last game on March 29 and the England-Sri Lanka Test series which ends on March 31.
Speaking to IANS, a senior official of one of the franchises had earlier said that they were keeping fingers crossed that the IPL Governing Council will go back to the old format of having double headers through the tournament and start around April 1.
"See, while the Australia-New Zealand series ends with the final T20I being played on March 29, the second Test of the series between England and Sri Lanka technically ends only on March 31. In such a scenario, you start the season minus your big players and that isn't a happy occasion. If we do start from April 1, the scenario looks so much better. Hopefully, the IPL GC will see what we are speaking about makes for a consideration," the official had said.
But looks like the IPL Governing Council is keen on doing away with too many double headers and want to ensure that fans get the best of viewing time.
(IANS)
The schedule for the league phase, which was accessed by IANS, was sent to the franchises on Saturday. The dates for the knockouts will be announced later.
Apart from the opening day and the last day of the league stage, which will be on March 29 and May 17, respectively, Sundays will feature two matches. In a first, there will be no double headers on Saturdays.
To accommodate the extra matches, the league stage has been extended by a week. The league stage for the 2020 season will thus be 50 days long, as opposed to 44 days last year.
The last league game will be between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. All seven franchises except for Rajasthan Royals have retained their home bases. The Royals have been offered two home venues -- Guwahati and Jaipur -- as options as the Rajasthan High Court is yet to decide on a PIL filed on the matter.
Sources told IANS that the rules and regulations of the IPL allow a franchise to move three of its home games to a second venue as long as it has the approval of the IPL Governing Council.
"The rules clearly say that you can play three of your home matches at a second venue as long as you have the clearance of the IPL GC. So, the Royals franchise is not doing anything that is against the policy," the source said.
(IANS)
Speaking to IANS, Union Sports Secretary Radhey Shyam Julaniya has made it clear that if a sports event is unavoidable and has to be organised, it should be done ensuring there is no public gathering.
"All national federations, including the BCCI, have been told to adhere to the guidelines and advisory issued by the ministry of health and public welfare. We have also told them to avoid any public gathering and if a sporting event has to be organised, it should be done without gathering of people.
Also Read: IPL 2020 To Begin At Wankhede On March 29
"It is the state government who has to manage the crowd and who has the power under the epidemic diseases act (Epidemic Act of 1897). If it is unavoidable and it has to be organised, then they should do it without collecting the crowd," he pointed.
This clearly is an indication for the BCCI that if they do go ahead with the IPL, it has to be behind closed doors. When contacted, a BCCI official said that the decision of the central government needs to be adhered to.
"The BCCI will take the best possible course of action in the interest of the game, the players, the fans and the league. The circumstances are changing and the board doesn't really have control over the situation. The IPL Governing Council is meeting in Mumbai on Saturday and has to take a call keeping in mind the diktat handed by the central government," a BCCI official told IANS.
The central government on Wednesday suspended all visas, barring a few categories like diplomatic and employment, in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across the country rose over 70.
When contacted, an official of an IPL franchise said that it was important that the BCCI also keeps the franchises in the loop in the current circumstance. "We have come to a scenario wherein we get to hear of developments from the media rather than the board. All stakeholders should be kept in loop with regards to the decisions being taken. If the Sports Ministry has already made it clear that there can be no public gathering around sporting events, then it is very clear that the IPL has to be held either behind closed doors or be deferred. Don't think the second is an option as such getting foreign players post the original window will be an issue," the official said.
B2 visas will see foreign players join IPL after April 15: Chennai Super Kings CEO
CSK CEO Kasi Vishwanathan has made it clear that the fresh visa advisory from the Indian government has made it almost impossible for foreign players to join their respective teams in the 13th edition of the IPL before April 15 unless the BCCI gets special permission.
Speaking to IANS, the CSK CEO said that most of the foreign players are booked on business visas and in such a scenario the fresh advisory sent out by the government on Wednesday says that they won't be allowed entry till April 15.
"Most of the players are travelling with business visas and that is how they come and play in the IPL. So, it will be impossible for them to join the teams unless the BCCI gets special permission. As of now, it is not possible as the diktat is pretty clear and we cannot go against the government," he said.
Asked what could be the best way forward, he said: "The BCCI needs to sit down with the government and I mean both the central and the state governments across the board and get to some understanding on how they need to go forward. Unless special permission is given, it will not be possible for foreign players to join the teams."
A second meeting of the Group of Ministers on Wednesday cancelled all visas, except for a few official categories, till April 15 in the wake of the growing coronavirus scare.
In the meeting held at Nirman Bhavan in the national capital, it was decided that all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment and project visas, stand suspended till April 15 as the coronavirus outbreak has already seen over 60 positive cases in India.
The coronavirus outbreak was on Wednesday declared a "pandemic" by the World Health Organisation (WHO), whose chief expressed his "deep concern" over the "alarming levels of inaction" in combating the virus spread.
(IANS)
A BCCI official said, "Yes, the internal decision has been made to postpone the start of the tournament and it will begin on April 15, the BCCI has informed the franchises about the same,"
In another development, the remaining two matches of the ongoing ODI series between India and South Africa has also been called off in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. A day after it was revealed that the last two ODIs of the series will be played in empty stadiums, sources told that the series itself will now be called off.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) later confirmed the news in a tweet. "CONFIRMED: The #INDvSA ODI series has been suspended in the wake of a growing number of coronavirus cases." The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or Cricket South Africa (CSA) are yet to put out official statements of their own.
Notably, the first match of the series in Dharamsala was washed out and the second and third match, scheduled to be played in Lucknow and Kolkata respectively, were to be closed door affairs.
Aussie medium pacer Kane Richardson tested negative for COVID-19 on Friday, paving the way for his return to Australia's squad after being ruled out of the first ODI against New Zealand owing to a sore throat.
The right-arm medium pacer, who had returned from South Africa earlier this week, had informed the medical staff of a sore throat on Thursday and his samples were sent for the testing of novel coronavirus.
To his and many in the Australian team's relief, the test results came as negative and he went on to play the first ODI against New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground.
"Kane Richardson has been cleared of contracting coronavirus after he returned a negative result to COVID-19 testing today," cricket.com.au reported.
"He received the all-clear about 8pm (local time) and was released from his hotel room quarantine to travel to the SCG for the opening ODI against New Zealand."
Also Read: Premier League In Doubt After Multiple Covid-19 Positive Cases
The Cricket Australia has already announced that the ongoing Chappell Hadlee series will be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak. They have also suspended the women's tour of South Africa, where the two teams were scheduled to play three ODIs and as many T20Is.
The ongoing coronavirus has had a severe impact on sporting events around the world.
The sports ministry has issued an advisory that in case it’s unavoidable to postpone a sporting event, then it is preferable that it be conducted without a large public gathering.
“The BCCI is in receipt of the sports ministry’s advisory. Obviously, if we are advised to avoid large gatherings, we will have to abide by it,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Also Read: Coronavirus Posts Big Impact On IPL 2020
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia took to Twitter to mention that the Delhi government will ban IPL 2020 in the wake of coronavirus threat.
दिल्ली सरकार ने कोरोना के फैलाव को रोकने के लिए सभी sports gatherings (including IPL), बड़े सेमिनार, कोंफ़्रेंस आदि के आयोजन पर पाबंदी लगा दी है. सभी DM, SDM अपने क्षेत्रों में कोरोना सम्बन्धी आदेशों के पालन पर निगरानी रखेंगे.
हम सबको मिलकर इस ख़तरनाक वायरस को फैलने से रोकना है.— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) March 13, 2020
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also announced that the remaining matches of ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) will take place behind closed doors.
Australia women's upcoming tour of South Africa, where the two teams were scheduled to play three ODIs and as many T20Is, has been suspended due to coronavirus concerns.
The ODI matches were due to be played in Durban (March 22), Pietermaritzburg (March 25) and East London (March 28) and the T20Is were due to be played in East London (March 31) and Benoni (April 3 and 4).
South Africa's men's team will also be affected by the global pandemic, with the last two ODIs of their three-match series in India scheduled to be played in front of empty stands.
In a statement, Cricket Australia also said that the three-match Chappell Hadlee series, which started Friday between the men's cricket teams of Australia and New Zealand, will be played in front of empty stands.
"A decision will be made in due course regarding Australia's three-match T20I tour of New Zealand. The matches are currently scheduled to play in Dunedin (March 24), Auckland (March 27) and Christchurch (March 29)."
Kevin Roberts, Cricket Australia's Chief Executive, said all decisions were made with the health and safety of the public, players, staff and match officials as the primary concern.
"We have taken strong action today in the face of an unprecedented public health issue," Roberts said.
(With Agency inputs)
"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till 15th April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) situation," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.
This came hours after Delhi government suspended all sporting activity in the national capital due to the ever-growing health crisis. Delhi is home to the Delhi Capitals IPL franchise.
The BCCI statement made it clear that it's "suspension" and "not postponement" which means that there is no clarity on whether the event will start on April 15.
Even if it starts on April 15, it is expected to happen behind closed doors without the fans.
Also Read: Coronavirus Hits Cricket Events: Australia Pacer Kane Richardson Tested For COVID19
So far, India has recorded more than 70 positive cases and one death due to the pandemic which has claimed close to 5,000 lives globally.
BCCI will discuss all the modalities of this year's edition at the IPL Governing Council meeting in Mumbai on Saturday.
"The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience. The Board will work closely with the Government of India along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and all other relevant Central and State Government departments in this regard," Shah stated.
There is a possibility that the tournament will feature more double-headers than previously planned and at least five optional venues are being kept ready after state governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi refused permission for the games.
"The only option left was postponement of the tournament till the visa ban is lifted (April 15). All the franchises have made it clear that there is no point of an IPL without foreign recruits," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
"In any case, foreign players with Business (B2) visa are not in exempted category. The second reason is that three state governments have decided against having IPL games. So, there are logistical issues that need to be sorted.
"We need some time to figure that out," the official said.
The IPL was originally scheduled to start on March 29 and end on May 24 making it a 56-day affair.
In case the BCCI is able to start the tournament on April 15, it will be a 40-day competition as the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) of other international teams will make it virtually impossible to stretch it beyond that point.
"Either the format of each team playing each other twice needs to be tweaked or we have to go for as many as possible double headers. This year, the decision was made to have only five double headers but now things have changed drastically," the official said.
The franchise owners are also hoping that in case the IPL starts on April 15, the state governments, which have denied permission for matches, will be ready to give the green light should the situation improves.
"The state government is a necessary arm as they provide the security (police) and also the various wings that work in tandem with BCCI. In case, Delhi (DC), Bengaluru (RCB) and Maharashtra (Mumbai Indians) decide against hosting games, there will be alternate venues that will be ready," said the BCCI source.
Some of the alternate venues that will be kept ready include Lucknow, Rajkot, Indore, Raipur, Visakhapatnam for these franchises.
Pune is currently out of equation with at least 10 positive cases reported from the city.
There are other teething issues as well including the fee that the franchises need to pay to the host association, which many would like to re-negotiate.
"The franchises was supposed to pay Rs 50 lakh to host associations, which was more than the earlier Rs 30 lakh. Certainly, they would like to re-negotiate now in case they can't raise enough sponsorship money," a BCCI official in know of things said.
In case of a closed-door event and restricted public appearances by players, the franchises are bound to lose out on a lot of sponsorship money as well as the gate money.
Also Read: India Vs South Africa ODI Matches To Be Played In Empty Stadiums
Star Sports, which has paid a whopping Rs 16,347 crore for five years (nearly Rs 5500 crore per year) for broadcast rights, might like to re-negotiate the deal with the BCCI in case of a curtailed IPL.
(PTI)
Only then will they decide on the next course of action with regard to the fate of the 13th edition of the IPL.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), which was supposed to start on March 29, was on Friday postponed till April 15.
Speaking to IANS, an official of one of the franchises said that while the current situation was discussed and all parties involved believed that human life is most important, a call on the fate of IPL will be taken only at the end of the month.
"No decision has been taken and discussions were held only on how this is a situation which is not in anybody's control. All the stakeholders understand that this is a situation which needs all parties to come together and stand united.
"It has been decided that the next call will be taken only towards the end of the month as that will also give the BCCI more time to understand how things are working with regard to the coronavirus outbreak and if the IPL can be held at all," the official said.
Also Read: Coronavirus Hits Cricket Events: IPL Postponed, SA Vs IND ODIs Cancelled
Another official added that waiting till the end of the month will also help understand if an exception can be made and foreign players can be brought in. After all, it all depends on how the situation stands with regard to the coronavirus outbreak in the country, which has already affected over 80 people.
"See, at the moment it is a pandemic. But waiting till the end of the month means you get approximately 15-16 more days to understand how things stand with regard to the coronavirus outbreak. While some options have been discussed, we will get a clarity only once we reach the end of the month. If the situation improves, the BCCI can always ask the government to help and make an exception so that foreign players can come in. At present, human life is the priority, nothing else," the official said.
The government on Wednesday cancelled all visas, except for a few official categories, till April 15 in the wake of the growing coronavirus scare.
In the meeting held at Nirman Bhavan in the national capital, it was decided that all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment and project visas, stand suspended till April 15.
The Sports Ministry also followed this up by making it clear that all sporting events should be cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. And if it is unavoidable, the events should be held behind closed doors so as to avoid mass gatherings.
The 2020 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a truncated affair, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly said on Saturday. The season was due to start on March 29 but has since been deferred to April 15 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country and around the world.
"If it happens, it has to be truncated because if it starts on April 15, then anyway 15 days are gone. How truncated, how many games, I can't tell at the moment," he told reporters after meeting officials from IPL franchises.
Ganguly said that even a call on whether to play the matches behind closed doors can be considered only after April 15 and that it is "too premature" to consider back-up plans in case the season cannot be held even after that date.
"Allow us a week and then we will figure out how things go around in the world and decide," he said. "We will reassess the situation every week. We will (coordinate) with the (authorities) and work around."
Ganguly said that the board has not yet set any cut-off date to host the tournament. "We can't say that at the moment. As much as we want the IPL to happen, we are also careful about the security of the people," he said.
84 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the country thus far and two deaths. The outbreak, coupled with the global crisis it has caused, has brought the sporting calendar in the country and around the world to a virtual standstill.
(IANS)
Also Read: IPL Suspended Till April 15 Over Coronavirus Outbreak, BCCI Likely To Change Format
"I would definitely like to see Dhoni in India's World Cup squad but it's highly unlikely that it is going to happen," Gavaskar told Dainik Jagran.
"The team has moved on. Dhoni is not someone to make big announcements so I reckon he would silently retire from the game."
MS Dhoni, 38, last played for India at the 2019 World Cup in England where the Men in Blue were knocked out in the semi-finals. Since then, he has been on a sabbatical and is due to appear on the cricket field in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Read: IPL 2020: Season’s Fate Towards End Of Month, Likely To Be Truncated
The IPL 2020 edition, originally due to start on March 29, has been postponed till April 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Dhoni was training with the Chennai Super Kings squad but had to leave midway due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has so far claimed more than 11,000 lives across the world.
However, a few days back, former India opener and domestic legend Wasim Jaffer has said that going into the T20 World Cup, Team India cannot look beyond veteran wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni, if he is fit and in form.
Jaffer, who announced his retirement from all forms of the game earlier this month, claimed Dhoni's inclusion in India squad could ease the pressure on K.L. Rahul or Rishabh Pant; who are currently sharing the gloves for Team India in limited-overs cricket.
"If Dhoni is fit and in form I think we can't look beyond him as he'll be an asset behind the stumps and also lower down the order. It'll take the pressure of keeping off Rahul and India can play Pant as a batsman too if they want a lefty," Jaffer said in a tweet.
Dhoni, 38, last played for Team India at the 2019 World Cup in England where the Men in Blue were knocked out in the semi-finals. Since then, he has been on a sabbatical and is due to appear on the cricket field in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
India head coach Ravi Shastri has already stated that Dhoni's selection depends on his performance in IPL.
"It all depends on when he starts playing and how he is playing during the IPL. What are the other people doing with the wicket-keeping gloves or what is the form of those players as opposed to Dhoni's form. The IPL becomes a massive tournament because that could be the last tournament after which more or less your 15 is decided," Shastri had told IANS in November last year.
"There might be one player who might be there and thereabouts in case of an injury or whatever. But your team I would say would be known after the IPL. What I would say is rather than speculating of who is where, wait for the IPL to get over and then you are in a position to take a call on who are the best 17 in the country," he had added.
As per the latest updates till Saturday evening, The number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in India rose to 283 with 65 persons testing positive. Several states have gone into battle mode to contain the pandemic, imposing restrictions on people’s movement and gatherings besides announcing a slew of precautionary measures.
(With Agency Inputs)
Also Read: Coronavirus Impact On Indian Sports & Sportsmen
Speaking to IANS, a BCCI functionary said that the current situation calls for an indefinite postponement and the franchises have been informed about the development and all are on the same page.
"We have to fight the pandemic and there is no choice for now. These are extraordinary times. We can't talk about cricket and IPL at the moment so it has been indefinitely postponed and franchises have been informed about it," the functionary said.
Also Read: Coronavirus Posts Big Impact On IPL 2020
When contacted, two IPL franchises confirmed the development. "Yes, the BCCI has informed us and we also believe that there is no two ways about this that at present we cannot have an IPL. Let us hope for the best and hopefully we can have one later in the year when things return to normalcy," an official of one of the franchises told IANS.
The IPL was originally scheduled to be held between March 29 and May 24, but was postponed initially till April 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
It looks like, as of now the two options of having an IPL this year are organising it in September and early October before the World T20 in Australia or hosting it at the expense of the World T20 if the ICC, Cricket Australia and other stakeholders are all in agreement.
The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly had admitted earlier that the chances of the 2020 season of the cash-rich league starting any time soon was bleak.
Read More: COVID19 Lockdown: Hockey India Postpones All National Championships
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that the ongoing coronavirus lockdown will be extended till May 3 in the larger interest of the nation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Announcing the decision, PM Modi said that the priority of the government is to save each and every life and the current situation has necessitated the tough decisions.
(With IANS inputs)
The 2020 IPL edition was slated to start from March 29 but with the coronavirus outbreak it was first deferred till April 15 and now with the extension of nation-wide lockdown in India till May 3, it has been indefinitely suspended.
Apparently, the Sri Lanka cricket board has written to their Indian counterparts wherein they have offered to host the IPL.
"Apparently it will cost the BCCI and its stakeholders more than $500 million to cancel the IPL," ESPNcricinfo quoted Shammi Silva, SLC president, as telling to Sinhala daily Lankadeepa.
Also Read: IPL 2020 postponed indefinitely after Covid-19 lockdown extension
"So perhaps they can minimise those losses by hosting the tournament in another country.
"If they play it in Sri Lanka, it's easy for Indian audiences to watch the games on TV. There's precedent for this because they've played the IPL in South Africa before. We're waiting for the Indian board to respond to our proposal," he added.
On two occasions in the past, the IPL has been shifted out of India. The 2009 edition of the IPL had been moved to South Africa due to Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, the UAE had hosted the first two weeks of IPL also because of the general assembly polls in India.
"If the Indian board does agree to play the tournament here, we're ready to provide facilities in line with the requirements and recommendations of medical professionals. It would be a substantial source of income for Sri Lankan cricket as well," Silva said.
Sri Lanka has so far registered fewer number of coronavirus cases as compared to India. Till now, the country has over 230 COVID-19 cases while seven lives have been lost in the island nation.
However, the lockdown imposed in Sri Lanka is even more severe than that in most parts of India, with a curfew having been put in place for almost four weeks. The Sri Lanka government remains optimistic about eliminating the virus from the country and if the goal is achieved, then Sri Lanka can become a viable option as an IPL venue. However, even then, the government clearance would be required to host such a big tournament.
BCCI is also looking at the two options of having an IPL this year. They are looking to organise the event in September and early October before the T20 World Cup in Australia or hosting it at the expense of the T20 World Cup if the ICC, Cricket Australia and other stakeholders are all in agreement.
Read More: Former CM Kumaraswamy son’s wedding sparks row over lockdown ‘violation’
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) paid tribute to their fans and urged them to stay home in a video that they tweeted. RCB would have been busy with the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) had it not been for the coronavirus forcing a postponement of the tournament.
The video shows clips of the players in practice and during matches and fans of the team in the stadium and on the streets. "The doctors and the police are playing bold everyday. To win, isn't that why we always played? And we will continue even if glory is delayed," says the narrator in the video.
The season was scheduled to start on March 29 with Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings in the opener. However, two weeks before the start, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that the season's start had been deferred to April 15 after the coronavirus pandemic forced the postponement of South Africa's ODI series in India.
Remember, together we are stronger, and we will continue even if Glory is delayed.#PlayBold #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/JP20WP1aOr
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 17, 2020
A few days after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a three-week lockdown that ended on April 14. However, this lockdown has since been extended to May 3, prompting the BCCI to postpone the 2020 edition of the tournament till the situation improves.
In India, the condition is worse as more than 13,000 confirmed cases have been reported thus far with more than 400 people losing their lives to coronavirus.
(With agency inputs)
Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said that while the general thought is that having the league in India will mean that the country has come out of the clutches of the coronavirus pandemic, there are a few who feel that if the situation demands, the league can be taken to places outside India.
"See, it is a case of the decision makers being divided 3-2 if that is how you wish to understand the current scenario. Without going into the names of who said what, all I can tell you is that the general feeling is that having the league in India would not only be a sign of positivity amongst the people of the country, but will also help as we will not need to travel abroad and act to a fresh set of guidelines.
"But then, there are a couple of voices who also feel that having the tournament should be the priority and if that means taking it out of the country, so be it. So, while we are working on the overall plan, the venue is an area which will need further deliberation. Also, at the end of the day safety of the players and everyone involved is priority," the official explained.
An official of a franchise echoed the sentiments and said that priority should always be having the tournament in the country. "See, if you have the league in the country, it is a positive signal to not just the world, but also to the people in India that we have managed to get back to normalcy. Also, the expenses go up quite a bit if you go outside. So, for us and I think for most of the teams, India would be the preferred choice," the official told IANS.
Players across the globe have been vocal about looking forward to playing the IPL now that it is almost certain that Cricket Australia (as per their mail to the ICC) is not in a position to host the World T20 in October-November as per initial schedule.
Speaking to IANS, India and Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar said that he was hoping to kickstart the cricketing season with the T20 league.
"We will need to slowly get back into the groove and I believe that IPL could be the perfect vehicle for us to return to cricketing action. It helps that we have a lot of games and that gets you into the rhythm. If you make a player play an ODI or Test immediately after the break, the body might break down due to the load. Like when you hit the gym, you don't do a 100kg bench press to start with.
"Similarly, playing the IPL will help not just the bowlers, but all cricketers as the level of competition you get here is top-class. But we do need a proper camp before the IPL starts so that we can get back into the groove after this phase away from the game," he pointed.
India and Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Kuldeep Yadav had also said that he was really looking forward to playing in the IPL.
"Of course I am very excited. I have heard that the IPL may happen this year as the T20 World Cup may get pushed. I am all set and very excited for IPL because I will get to play after a long break. IPL is a tough tournament and if it happens this year I will give my best. IPL will also give us confidence for the forthcoming Australia series. So yes I am all excited and I am looking forward to it," he had said.
(IANS)
Read More:
ICC Provides Framework For Safe Resumption Of Cricket
Cricket Australia Announces Full International Summer Schedule Including India Series
In a letter to all the affiliated units sent late on Wednesday after the ICC Board meeting, Ganguly seemed confident of an IPL this year despite its current status of being indefinitely suspended because of the raging pandemic, which has claimed more than 8,000 lives in India.
"The BCCI is working on all possible options to ensure that we are able to stage IPL this year, even if it means playing the tournament in empty stadiums," Ganguly wrote.
"The fans, franchises, players, broadcasters, sponsors and all other stakeholders are keenly looking forward to the possibility of IPL being hosted this year.
"Recently, a lot of players both from India and other countries, participating in the IPL have shown keenness on being part of this year's IPL. We are optimistic and the BCCI will shortly decide on the future course of action on this," the former India captain said.
It is widely speculated that the IPL is eyeing the October event if the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in Australia at that time is postponed. The ICC has deferred a decision on the World Cup's fate until next month.
Ganguly also said that the BCCI is working on the domestic schedule while exploring various formats which would make tournaments like Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Vijay Hazare "competitive and feasible".
"Moving ahead, the BCCI is in process of planning the domestic competitions for the next cricketing season. We are working on various options and formats in our endeavour to ensure that various domestic tournaments are held, they stay competitive and participation feasible," said the former India captain.
"The BCCI will come up with more details in next couple of weeks," he added.
He also informed that BCCI is preparing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for resumption of cricket in all state units to ensure medical safety of those involved.
The president also informed that the BCCI has made "all efforts to release funds/grants to its various members."
"Associations which have made proper submission of their accounts and funds utilization certificates have already received their grants," he said.
The other units will also receive their grants once they submit relevant documents, the president assured while informing that vendors have also been paid.
Read More:
ICC Bans Saliva On Cricket Ball, Issues Interim Changes To Playing Regulations
The cash-rich league was initially scheduled to be played from March 29 but due to coronavirus pandemic the tournament was postponed indefinitely by the BCCI.
Ganguly once again reiterated the board's desire to host the IPL this year to bring back some sort of normalcy in the wake of COVID-19 crisis.
"We want to have it, as I said that cricket needs to be back," Ganguly said on India Today's show Inspiration.
"For us, it's off-season at the moment which has helped. We finished our domestic season in March and then we had to cancel the IPL, which is the most important part of our domestic season.
"We want IPL to happen because life needs to be back to normal and cricket needs to be back to normal but we don't have a decision from the ICC regarding the T20 World Cup," he added.
There have been reports of the IPL shifting out of India considering the virus threat that is raging on in the country presently. Ganguly, however, stated their priority will be to host the tournament in India before looking out for venues on foreign shores.
IANS had earlier reported that the situation with regards to the coronavirus pandemic might force the board to ultimately take the tournament to either UAE or Sri Lanka.
"We keep hearing different things from the media but till actually its officially not told to the board members and the countries, you don't know what is happening," Ganguly said.
"But we want to host it, our priority is India. Whatever time we get, even if we get 35-40 days we will host it.
"Places like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai -- these are big teams in the IPL and at this stage, I don't think you can put your hand on heart and say that cricket will happen in these places.
"We were keen to go to Ahmedabad to see the new stadium but I don't know if we will be able to go there or not. It's not easy at the moment to say that we are going to host it in India," the former India captain said.
The 48-year-old also praised his eyebrows over the prospect of hosting the tournament outside India and the financial and logistical implications that will tag along with it.
"Will it be in India? If it's not then we think of going out, but where? Because going out becomes very expensive for the board, the franchises because of the currency conversion rates," he said.
"So we are monitoring it and we are very keen to host it. We have our fingers crossed, we don't want the year 2020 to finish without an IPL."
'Happy Birthday Dadi': Wishes Pour In As Sourav Ganguly Turns 48
Legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar led the wishes for former India captain and current President of the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly who turned 48 on Wednesday.
Touted to be one of the best captains the country has ever produced, Ganguly is widely credited for making India an aggressive side and instilling belief in the team that they could win overseas conditions as well.
Tendulkar was among the first ones to extend birthday wishes to his former opening partner. "Happy birthday Dadi! Hope our off-field partnership keeps going strong like our on-field ones. Wish you a blessed year ahead," Tendulkar said on Twitter.
Happy birthday Dadi!
Hope our off-field partnership keeps going strong like our on-field ones. Wish you a blessed year ahead. pic.twitter.com/jOmq9XN07w— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 8, 2020
"Many more happy returns of the day Sourav Ganguly. May you taste ever more success and receive more and more love. Have a great day and year ahead #HappyBirthdayDada," said VVS Laxman.
Many more happy returns of the day @SGanguly99 . May you taste ever more success and receive more and more love. Have a great day and year ahead #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/j53UUDerJE
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 8, 2020
Mohammad Kaif wrote: "From a fine batsman to an outstanding captain & now leading Indian cricket on the whole—here's wishing my favourite captain & mentor Sourav Ganguly a very happy birthday. But FAULADI SEENA dikha ke aise kaun chadhta hai, Dada #HappyBirthdayDada."
From a fine batsman to an outstanding captain & now leading Indian cricket on the whole—here’s wishing my favourite captain & mentor @SGanguly99 a very happy birthday. But FAULADI SEENA dikha ke aise kaun chadhta hai, Dada #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/8PKZ3RwwtB
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 8, 2020
"Wishing a very happy birthday to the most dynamic and visionary captain of his time. It's a matter of immense pleasure to work with the man who took Indian cricket to new heights. Subho Janmodin Sourav Ganguly," tweeted BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.
Wishing a very happy birthday to the most dynamic and visionary captain of his time. It’s a matter of immense pleasure to work with the man who took Indian cricket to new heights. Subho Janmodin @SGanguly99! pic.twitter.com/5Au67KmsF6
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) July 8, 2020
"Leader of Men. God of off-side. Fighter. Happy Birthday, Dada. #HappyBirthdayDada," said Aakash Chopra.
Leader of Men.
God of off-side.
Fighter.
Happy Birthday, Dada. 🤗🙌 #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/PJcy0xwgyb— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 8, 2020
Ishant Sharma said: "Shubho Jonmodin Dada Sourav Ganguly. A true inspiration for many! Lots of love and best wishes to you! Have a great #QuarantineBirthday!"
Shubho Jonmodin Dada 🎂 @SGanguly99
A true inspiration for many! Lots of love and best wishes to you! Have a great #QuarantineBirthday! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rltgkcATMc
— Ishant Sharma (@ImIshant) July 8, 2020
"Happy birthday dada! From a great captain to a brilliant administrator, you have donned them magnificently. Hope you continue your good work for the betterment of Indian cricket... Godspeed. Sourav Ganguly #HappyBirthdayDada," tweeted Pragyan Ojha.
Happy birthday dada! From a great captain to a brilliant administrator, you have donned them magnificently. Hope you continue your good work for the betterment of Indian cricket... Godspeed. @SGanguly99 #HappyBirthdayDada pic.twitter.com/DMAogyHtvH
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) July 8, 2020
Putting out various important achievements of Ganguly, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on their official Twitter handle wrote: "Third-fastest to 10,000 ODI runs. Holds the record for the highest individual score in CWC for India. 2003 ICC World Cup runner-up. Captained India to 11 wins in 28 overseas Tests. Happy birthday to one of India's most successful captains, Sourav Ganguly."
🏏 Third-fastest to 10,000 ODI runs
⭐ Holds the record for the highest individual score in CWC for India
🥈 2003 ICC Men's @cricketworldcup runner-up
🧢 Captained India to 11 wins in 28 overseas TestsHappy birthday to one of 🇮🇳's most successful captains, Sourav Ganguly 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7MJe1cXcVS
— ICC (@ICC) July 8, 2020
Ganguly played 113 Tests and 311 ODIs in which he scored 7,212 and 11,363 runs respectively.
Read More:
Wasim Jaffer Picks Virat Kohli As India’s Best White-Ball Cricketer
ICC Bans Saliva On Cricket Ball, Issues Interim Changes To Playing Regulations
Speaking to IANS, a franchise official said that they have already started preparing for the logistics and have zeroed in on the hotel they wish to stay at in Abu Dhabi and how exactly they will train and prepare for the 13th edition of the league.
"You need to be smart and plan early. We have been given the required inputs and are planning accordingly. We have actually decided on the hotel we wish to stay at in Abu Dhabi and how exactly we will go through the process of flying in and going through the necessary quarantine period once in UAE. We will obviously need to brush up with the then health guidelines of the country," the official said.
Another official of a former champion franchise said that they are looking to get an isolation period done in India before heading off to UAE. "We are looking at having the boys come together in India. Go through a period of spending time in a bio-secure environment and then get our tests done and head to UAE.
"The reason behind that is we are all staying at home. So, if one of us is asymptomatic, we have the risk of infecting others. That is why it is better to go through a couple of weeks of isolation and testing here in the country before heading out," the official explained.
Asked about the travel plan, an official of another franchise said that chartered planes are the most viable options as normal flight schedules may or may not start and each team will have around 35-40 people travelling as a unit.
"I think most teams, if not all, are already looking at hiring chartered planes. You never know if we will have regular flights operating by the end of August and most teams would wish to be in the UAE by the last week of August or at max the first week of September. So, in such a scenario, the best way is to hire chartered planes as we will all have around 35-40 people flying to UAE. The number of members obviously increases a bit when you are headed outside and have restrictions in movement in times like these," the official pointed.
Another franchise official though begged to differ and said that they are still looking at first-class travel if flights start operating as the franchise isn't looking at any grouping in India and want the assembling to happen directly in the UAE.
"To be honest, if you ask me, we as a franchise are looking at first-class travel for our players as that means better distancing. The sole reason is that we might not be assembling in India and be directly heading to UAE from each of our homes after doing necessary COVID-19-related tests. So, in such a scenario, you cannot expect the owners to pay for 8-10 chartered trips. But yes, if normal flights don't start operating then it is a different scenario," the official said.
But all franchises are on the same plane when it comes to having foreign players head straight to UAE rather than first assemble in India, undergo quarantine formalities in this country and then follow the same in UAE.
"We have been having our calls and discussions on how we are all planning the logistics and stuff and I can assure you almost all of us are of the opinion that foreign players will meet the teams directly in UAE as that makes more sense. Imagine someone first coming to India, spending 10-14 days in quarantine over here and then again heading to UAE and going through their quarantine process. The foreigners are likely to join in directly unless some franchises change any plan in the eleventh hour," the official said.
(IANS)
More Stories On IPL 2020:
Don’t Want Year 2020 To Finish Without An IPL, Says BCCI Chief Sourav Ganguly
IPL 13 likely overseas, UAE & Sri Lanka Front runners To Host
Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said that the concept of Diwali has changed over the last few years and BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) ratings have been not so productive in those weekends and that is exactly why even the Indian team has in the last few years been given Diwali breaks to enjoy with their families.
"We can always sit down and discuss the matter with Star India although we have discussed BARC ratings with them in the past as well since they not only broadcast IPL, but also have the rights to broadcast Indian cricket. The Diwali weekend actually sees a dip in BARC ratings and that is why we have seen our national team generally take a break at that point in time.
"Not only do the players get a well-deserved break, but also spend quality time with near and dear ones during one of the biggest celebrations in the country. We can always discuss this with the broadcasters again if there is any sort of confusion. This is the sole reason why the IPL wasn't extended into the Diwali weekend," the official explained.
When contacted, a franchise official said that last-minute inventory would have definitely come at a higher rate for Star India if the final weekend clashed with Diwali. But the dates don't directly concern the franchises.
"See, if you are talking from the franchise point of view, there isn't too much of a difference for us because it isn't like we are playing with fans in India and more people would come in and we would generate more revenue from gate money.
"But yes, just from the broadcaster's point of view, there could be a case that while 75-80 per cent of the inventory has been sold off, there is still that last bit which would obviously be sold at a higher rate if we went into the Diwali weekend," the official told IANS.
Another franchise official echoed the sentiments and said while they are not affected, Star India could generate a bit more revenue. "I think the broadcasters could have made some last-minute deals which would be enhanced due to the Diwali weekend clashing with the IPL playoffs. But for us, it doesn't directly affect us," the official explained.
(IANS)
More Related Stories:
IPL 2020: Franchises Begin Preparations In UAE Amid COVID Pandemic
Don’t Want Year 2020 To Finish Without An IPL, Says BCCI Chief Sourav Ganguly
While the IPL Governing Council will meet next week to chalk out the final details and approve the schedule, it is understood that the BCCI has informally intimated the franchises about the plan.
"IPL in all likelihood will start on September 19 (Saturday) and the final will be held on November 8 (Sunday). It is a 51-day window which will suit the franchises as well as the broadcasters and other stakeholders," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
The IPL has been made possible by the ICC's decision to postpone the October-November T20 World Cup in Australia owing to the COVID-19 pandemic due to which the host country expressed its inability to conduct the event.
While there were speculations that IPL will start from September 26, the BCCI decided to advance it by a week in order to ensure that the Indian team's tour of Australia is not jeopardised.
"The Indian team will have a mandatory quarantine of 14 days as per Australian government rules. A delay would have sent the plans haywire.
"The best part is that 51 days is not at all a curtailed period and there will be much less doubleheaders. We could stick to original five doubleheaders in seven-week window," the official said.
It is expected that with each and every team needing at least a month's time to train, the franchises will be leaving base by August 20 which gives them exactly four weeks time to prepare.
(PTI)
More Cricket News:
COVID Impact: India, Australia T20I Series Unlikely This Year?
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 Postponed
The IPL will start in the UAE from September 19 and the final will be held on November 8 with three stadiums -- Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi hosting the 60 games over 51 days.
"In the UAE, it will be slightly easier doing (monitoring ACU activity) as there are only three grounds compared to eight venues in India. That's not an issue at all. Once the schedule comes, we will decide the workforce," Singh told PTI during an interaction.
The UAE, in 2014, hosted the first part of IPL due to general elections in India.
Singh said currently, there are "eight ACU officers who are on BCCI payrolls".
So, will that be enough in terms of managing the work through 60 matches as well as keeping a tab on hotels?
It will depend on the kind of bio-security bubble created, reckoned the former Rajasthan top cop.
"It's too early to comment on measures as we need to first check what kind of bio-security measures will be created. We first need to see how things are taking shape there and we will deploy our men accordingly," Singh said.
"In case, we need men, we will hire them," he added.
With the ICC headquartered in Dubai, the BCCI, if need be, can take help of the global body which has a huge team of ACU officials who can be hired, according to a BCCI official.
"If it is a private league that approaches ICC for hiring ACU officers and they agree to cover the event, then the league organisers bear the costs," the senior official told PTI.
The BCCI might need some more workforce considering that each team will have one dedicated 'Integrity Officer' as per rules.
"It is the BCCI that will designate one Integrity officer per team during the course of the IPL. Now whether they will be a part of the bio-bubble (if created), we don't know, but the Integrity officer is completely their domain," a senior franchise official clarified the rules.
The UAE does have a history of being a hotbed for bookies and fixers but the ACU head is quite confident that intelligence gathering will not be hampered by this shift of tournament.
"Whoever is involved (bookies/fixers) they are all inter-connected. If we have our sources here, they also know how these bookies operate.
"If they get information about this place, they will get information about that place also. It's not so much of an issue," he said.
(PTI)
Related Stories:
IPL 2020 Likely To Start On September 19 In UAE
IPL 2020: Franchises Begin Preparations In UAE Amid COVID Pandemic
The helpline number, if introduced, will be a part of the board's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the lucrative tournament, which will be held in the UAE from September 19.
If the need arises, such dedicated helplines could help them deal with stress and anxiety better.
The BCCI is set to release a comprehensive SOP for all eight franchises after Sunday's Governing Council meeting where the final schedule will be passed.
A question that has been asked by a few franchises is regarding the pressure of staying away from families for a prolonged period, and the BCCI might address that in the meeting.
"The BCCI's SOP is likely to have full details of all the medical facilities which will be available for players and support staff. It is expected that there will be a helpline where players can call up in case they feel stress and anxiety. There will be expert help for one and all," a BCCI source, privy to the development, told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
One of the major issues will be how the BCCI deals with players' families accompanying them for the full period. The board, as well as franchises, are aware that loneliness could be a big factor, especially in a high-intensity tournament like the IPL.
"If BCCI has a helpline to deal with mental health, it could be a real welcome move and also step in the right direction which is also needed of the hour," a franchise official said.
It is learnt that the franchises can work around the SOP manual which the BCCI will handover to them.
(PTI)
Also Read:
India Sees 82% Decline In Triple Talaq Cases In Last 1 Year!
IPL 2020 Likely To Start On September 19 In UAE
Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said that while the Sports Ministry has already given the go-ahead, the board is hopeful that the External Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry will also give the go-ahead soon.
The official reiterated that there would be no hiccups and the Indian cricket board will abide by all the regulations put in place by the government in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
"The BCCI has received clearance from the Sports Ministry and we are hopeful of a positive response from the other departments quite soon as well.
There have been some noises from certain quarters as they want to see the board fail in successfully conducting the IPL this year, but they are basically only trying to create confusion among the cricket loving people in the country.
"Let me assure you that the BCCI is committed towards organising a safe and clean IPL and are confident that it will give the necessary boost to the sports sector in these times. We are also extremely grateful to the government for their support and understanding.
In fact, they have been guiding us right through this period and we would also want to thank Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju," the official said.
IPL franchises are also confident that the government will give the required permission to take the tournament to UAE as the IPL will further boost the morale of the people of India who have had to face a tough time combating the pandemic.
"See, you will always have people around you who will look at the negatives. But what you cannot forget is the kind of support the IPL gives the Indian domestic structure. We are confident that the BCCI will get the required permission to take the tournament to UAE because at the end of the day we all want the smiles to return on the faces of the Indian people.
Many are waiting to see the likes of M.S. Dhoni and Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma take the field after so many months. All protocols will be followed and safety of the players will be a priority," one of the officials of an IPL franchise said.
(IANS)
You May Also Read:
IPL 2020 SOP: Mental Health Awareness Helpline For Players To Be Introduced
IPL Governing Council Meeting On August 2, Likely To Finalise Schedule
Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said that it was decided to take the IPL into another week and that will see the final being played on November 10. The official also said that to ensure that there is enough spacing between games considering the strict protocol that will be in place, 10 double-headers have been planned.
"We have decided to go up till November 10 and so the final will be held on a weekday for the first time. Also, to ensure that there is enough gaps between games considering the travelling and the biosecure environment and keeping all these things in mind, we will have 10 double-headers this season," the official revealed.
Asked about the starting time, the official said that it will be 7:30 p.m. IST for the evening games. "We have decided to bring it forward by 30 minutes from the regular time of the IPL which is 8 p.m. for evening games and we will start at 7:30 instead."
Asked if the entry of fans were discussed in the meeting, the official said that these things can be taken care of in consultation with the Emirates Cricket Board.
"It would be great to have some fans come in as that would boost the morale of the players for sure. But what needs to be remembered is that the safety of the players is priority. So, these are things we will discuss with the ECB at the right time," the official said.
Franchises have also been asked to start the visa process. "We have been asked to start our visa process," an official of one of the franchises told IANS.
The BCCI is also optimistic of getting the complete go-ahead from the government in the coming week to move the tournament to UAE.
"The BCCI has received clearance from the Sports Ministry and we are hopeful of a positive response from the other departments quite soon as well," a BCCI official had told IANS on Saturday.
(IANS)
You May Also Read:
IPL 2020 SOP: Mental Health Awareness Helpline For Players To Be Introduced
IPL 13: BCCI Hopes To Get All Government Clearance Soon
Speaking to IANS, a Mumbai Indians official said that players have already started arriving and there is a strict protocol in place to ensure that nobody falls prey to the coronavirus.
"The domestic players have started to arrive and they all are sent into a 14-day quarantine wherein the only time they are allowed to exit the room is when they need to get their test done. Apart from that, all facilities are being provided inside the rooms.
"The India players are also expected to come in soon and they too will go through the quarantine phase. As and when a player's quarantine period is over, he is then given the go-ahead to start training at our ground," the official explained.
Asked about the testing part, the official explained that there will be five rounds of testing for the MI players by the time they take the plane to UAE.
"See, we have asked all the players to undergo two rounds of testing in their home city before they come to Mumbai. And here, we will do another three rounds of testing which we believe is good enough. There might be one or two cases wherein a player might not have had adequate facilities at home and managed to get just one test instead of two. But all in all, we are looking at five rounds of tests before heading to play the IPL for the players as well as the support staff," the official pointed.
Asked about the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), the official said that these are tough times and the franchise believes it is important to work in tandem with the BCCI and ensure smooth functioning.
"We are waiting for the SOP from the BCCI, but we do understand that these are unforeseen times and the pressure is already that much more on the board. We also have prepared our roadmap on how we are looking to approach the tournament and will integrate it with the SOP which the BCCI is expected to give us in the next couple of days. Patience is the key as nobody was prepared for such a turn of events," he said.
Commenting on when the team plans to leave, the official said: "Let's see. Maybe around August 21 or 22. The final date hasn't been zeroed in on as yet. We should have a clearer picture after the meeting with the IPL Governing Council."
(IANS)
You May Also Read:
IPL 13 Starts From September 19, Grand Finale On November 10
IPL 2020 SOP: Mental Health Awareness Helpline For Players To Be Introduced
This time along the schedule of IPL is clashing with two big reality shows on television. Usually, IPL starts in the month of March and ends by the second week of May. But due to coronavirus pandemic, it got delayed.
Bigg Boss started last year by the end of September. Similarly, Nach Baliye 9 aired from July 19 onwards. Both these reality shows received an overwhelming response. However, this time along things can be a bit different. It is because most of the Indians would always prefer to watch an IPL2020 match instead of any reality show. Moreover, the weekend episodes of Bigg 14 are the most-watched as Salman Khan appears on the show during the weekend.
Contrarily, Nach Baliye airs only on weekends. Now, the weekend matches of IPL are also high-profile which the fans will never want to miss. And this can certainly affect the TRP ratings of Bigg Boss 14 and Nach Baliye 10. Salman Khan will once again host the reality show on Colors. Regarding Nach Baliye 10, rumors are adrift that Bipasha Basu, Vaibhavi Merchant, and David Dhawan will be the judges this season.
8 teams participating in IPL 2020 will leave for UAE in the 3rd and 4th week of August. The tournament received a major setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, its regular title sponsor VIVO too has pulled out of the tournament. Vivo has a five-year contract of around 440 crores with BCCI. This decision was taken amicably due to rising tension between India and China on the border. However, it will be only a one-year pull-out and both BCCI and Vivo may join hands once again after things between the two countries return to normalcy.
The IPL 2020 edition will be played at three venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah from September 19 to November 10.
According to a report in the Gulf Times, the team will consist of IPL chairman Brijesh Patel, Hemang Amin, interim CEO of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and COO of IPL and they will have to quarantine themselves for six days on arrival in their hotel rooms before getting to work.
The BCCI has got the government green signal too to host the IPL in the UAE keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation in India.
The BCCI on Monday invited third parties to express their interest in acquiring the title sponsorship rights for the 13th edition of the IPL - a slot which has been left vacant following Vivo's exit.
The last date of submitting the expression of interest (EOI) is August 14, a BCCI statement said. The final bid should be sent to the cricket board on August 18.
The BCCI, last week, had decided to suspend the partnership with Chinese mobile company Vivo. The move came after the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council were both criticised for retaining Vivo as the title sponsor amid the raging anti-China sentiment.
(IANS)
More Related Stories:
IPL 13: Patanjali Considering Bidding For Title Sponsorship
IPL 13: With Anil Kumble As Mentor, KXIP Will Do Well: Brett Lee
According to sources, Dream11, which is already a partner of the BCCI, outbid Tata Sons, Byju's and Unacademy to bag the sponsorship for the biggest sporting event.
"BCCI has awarded the title sponsorship of IPL 2020 to Dream11," sources close to the development confirmed to IANS. While the BCCI received Rs 440 crore per year from Vivo, Dream11 may pay BCCI aproximately Rs 250 crore for the upcoming edition - which will be played in the UAE from September 19 to November 10, sources said.
IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the news that Dream11 has won the IPL 2020 title sponsorship for Rs 222 crores.
Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Vivo Mobile India Pvt Ltd cancelled their partnership for Indian Premier League 2020.
Meanwhile, Aditya Verma, Secretary of Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), said that the development was against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' agenda.
"As a well-wisher of Indian sports, I wish and pray that IPL 13 is held successfully in the UAE," Verma told IANS.
"However, with Dream11 becoming the title sponsor of IPL, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' will be a bit shattered as Dream11 is a Chinese company. It has also come to fore that the company has a huge investment in one of the IPL franchises," he added.
On August 10, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had invited third parties to express their interest in acquiring the title sponsorship rights for the 13th edition of the IPL.
The IPL 2020 title sponsorship was left vacant after the national cricket board had decided to suspend its partnership with Chinese mobile company Vivo as the ‘Boycott China' campaign gathered steam in the wake of the India-China standoff at the Galwan Valley in Ladakh in June in which 20 Indian soldiers had lost their lives.
Dream11 is a fantasy sports platform based in India that allows users to play fantasy cricket, hockey, football, kabaddi, and basketball. In April 2019, Dream11 became the first Indian gaming company to enter the ‘Unicorn Club’.
According the sources, the entire team has been quarantined after the development. "A total of 12 members are have been affected and the entire team has been told to go quarantine again. It is learnt that they got infected during a camp in Chennai," said the sources.
CSK officials and BCCI refused to confirm the development.
The CSK team had landed in Dubai on August 21 and after the mandatory six-day quarantine period had started training as well. The IPL begins on September 19, but the BCCI has still not released the scheduled of the matches.
(IANS)
Both Virat and Anushka can be seen cutting a cake with the Royal Challengers Bangalore team members who are now currently in Dubai for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).
💕 #Virushka pic.twitter.com/W0XJT06dVY
— Anushka Sharma FC™ (@AnushkaSFanCIub) August 29, 2020
Earlier on Thursday, the couple had shared one of their photos on social media and captioned it, “And then, we were three! Arriving Jan 2021.”
Wishes poured in for Virat and Anushka after they broke the news about expecting their first child.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on their official twitter handle informed that the team got chance to spend quality time at a dedicated private beach.
7 days of quarantine in Bengaluru followed by 7 days in Dubai and 6 COVID tests later, the team finally got a chance to spend quality time together in a dedicated private beach and a state of the art team room, within the secure bio bubble.#PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers pic.twitter.com/UweXBqhjlv
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) August 29, 2020
(Edited By Pradeep Singh)
Also Read: New Arrival In Virushka’s Life In 2021: Virat Breaks News About Anushka’s Pregnancy
One of the reasons being cited is that he returned because of his children while a few suggested that his uncle was killed in Punjab.
However, sources on Sunday told IANS that the reason was more "stupid". "It was a stupid reason, nothing much. He was not happy with the room given to him. It all started when he came to the UAE, along with the team. Other CSK members tried to convince him but he didn't listen to anybody," sources in the UAE said.
Meanwhile, N. Srinivasan, Chief of India Cements which owns CSK, has also made some shocking revelations. He was quoted as saying by Outlook that Raina found the rules of the bio-bubble claustrophobic and wanted a room with a balcony like CSK captain MS Dhoni had.
Srinivasan also said Raina's sudden exit left the team in a bit of shock but skipper Dhoni "was in complete control of the situation."
Raina was unavailable for comment.
If sportspersons, who are used to playing in open areas, do feel claustrophobic in closed environment, it is not surprising or Raina's is not the first such case.
In May, when India's 1975 World Cup-winning hockey goal-keeper Ashok Diwan returned from the USA, after meeting his son, he found his 11-day quarantined in a Delhi hotel like a "jail" and felt suffocated in his room with no fresh air and sealed windows.
"I was told about the timings of the delivery of food. The person who would bring food to my room would keep the tray on a table outside the room and I had to bring it inside. Besides, I had to do everything else, like washing clothes, cleaning bathroom, and even changing bedsheets etc, which they would keep outside the room and leave. No one was allowed to come inside the room nor was I permitted to go out, so I had to do everything," Diwan was quoted as saying in media reports. "Only I know what I went through in those 11 days."
(IANS)
Read More:
Online Chess Olympiad: India, Russia Announced Joint Winners
IPL 2020: 12 CSK Members Test COVID-19 Positive, Team Quarantined
While the eight franchises bore the cost of testing in India, the BCCI is picking up the tab for the RT-PCR tests which have been conducted from August 20 when the teams started landing in the UAE.
"We have engaged VPS Healthcare, a UAE based company to conduct the tests. While I can't put a number, it will be more than 20,000 tests which would include everyone. Each test would cost BCCI around 200 AED (Dirham) excluding taxes," a senior IPL official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
"So BCCI will be spending something in the tune of Rs 10 crore for the COVID tests. Around 75 healthcare workers who are part of the company are a part of the IPL testing process," the official said.
The BCCI doesn't want to leave anything to chance as far as safety of players and officials is concerned and the healthcare workers have been put in a separate hotel.
"We couldn't have taken the risk. A separate bio-bubble has been created by the company in a hotel. Around 50 of its health care staff are attached with testing process while another 25 are engaged in lab and documentation work.
"The BCCI is however not paying for this bio-bubble and hotel expenses which will be borne by the company," he informed.
A total of 1988 COVID tests were carried out between August 20 28 across all those involved with the tournament, including players and support staff.
Chennai Super Kings were forced to extend their quarantine after 13 members of their contingent tested positive, including two players in India seamer Deepak Chahar and A team batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad.
All are currently undergoing a 14-day mandatory quarantine after which they will have to return two negative tests, following which they can return to training.
(PTI)
You May Also Like:
IPL 2020: Rift Over Hotel Room Reason Behind Suresh Raina’s Exit!
IPL 2020 Updates: MS Dhoni & Suresh Raina Leave for UAE
And because of the COVID-related problems in organising the 13th edition of the IPL, the BCCI has not only not announced the schedule of matches, but has also not shared its plans with the eight franchises.
"The BCCI hasn't told the franchises anything yet about the IPL schedule. But for us franchises the IPL is on as of today, because if the IPL was not to happen this year the BCCI would have told us much earlier. The franchises have spent a lot of money on their teams. Positive cases will continue to emerge," a source in a franchise told IANS from the UAE.
"The point is that if the BCCI has to cancel the IPL they need to cancel it today. They can't cancel it after 15 days. The franchises are here in the UAE and have spent so much money on their teams. Also, when we have called our players for the IPL, we will have to pay them as well. In the event of a cancellation, we can't tell the players that since you didn't play matches we wouldn't pay you. All that will have to be taken into consideration. Presently, BCCI officials are talking to the local governments of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah," the franchise official informed.
Indian Premier League Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel and interim BCCI CEO Hemang Amin are in the UAE and are in talks with the three emirates governments to seek some concessions in the strict COVID protocols for the IPL and then chalk out a workable plan.
Another source said if one is going from Dubai to Abu Dhabi COVID-testing is done at the border and it takes up to two-and-a-half hours. Alternately, one has to produce a certificate of a negative result of a test done within the last 48 hours. "But you do not expect the likes of Dhoni and Kohli to stand in the queue for that long. So, BCCI is trying to get permission to do COVID tests on IPL squad members in their hotels," he said.
At the same time, all franchises have become extra cautious after thirteen Chennai Super Kings (CSK) members, including two players, tested COVID-19 positive in the UAE. Players and coaching staff come out of their hotel rooms only for practice/training/yoga sessions and for some recreational activities that a few franchises, like Mumbai Indians, have created. But breakfast, lunch and dinner are being served in their rooms. All that is being done within the established local COVID protocols.
"We are taking all the precautions after the CSK episode. Initially, we had thought that we would take the team out for a few team dinners sometime during the tournament. But that plan has been shelved. Now, it is only bubble, and bubble, and bubble. All meals are being served in the squad members' rooms; it's only room service now," a franchise official said.
Abu Dhabi has the strictest protocols of the three emirates where the IPL is to be played. It has virtually sealed all its entry-exit points, and is allowing people to enter only after they furnish proof of their negative COVID-19 test results.
The opening match of the IPL, between champions Mumbai Indians and runners-up CSK, is expected to be played in Abu Dhabi on September 19. If all the pieces do not fall into place by that time, then the BCCI would have to make further changes in plans, and maybe cancel the Abu Dhabi leg altogether.
The delay in the announcement of the IPL schedule has prevented STAR India, the official broadcaster, from finalising their plans for the coverage. It was planned that separate crews would be stationed in each of the three emirates, due to the pandemic, to cover the matches. Meanwhile, one person who would have been part of STAR's production team has tested positive in India and has been grounded. All in all, the situation on all fronts is fluid, and everyone is keeping his fingers crossed.
(IANS)
You May Read:
IPL 13: BCCI To Spend Over Rs 10 Crore To Conduct 20,000 COVID-19 Tests
IPL 2020: 12 CSK Members Test COVID-19 Positive, Team Quarantined
Harbhajan Singh will be the second player from the CSK after Suresh Raina to withdraw from the upcoming 13th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 slated to be played from September 19 to November 10 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On the other hand, CSK will start their training from today ahead of the IPL 2020 after all their players, except the two infected with coronavirus, tested negative for Covid-19 in their latest round of testing.
"The training starts from today. All others, apart from the 13, tested negative for the third time. Those who tested positive will only be tested after the isolation period (two weeks) is over," CSK CEO KS Viswanathan told PTI.
Sources in the know of development confirmed to IANS that all players and support staff, who underwent their third round of testing on Thursday, have returned negative and will start training from Friday evening.
Last week, two players and 11 others of the CSK contingent had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and were subsequently put in isolation. They will undergo test after completing their mandatory 14-day isolation period. They need to return with two negative tests before being allowed to train.
The Chennai-based franchise is the last to start with their training as all other franchises have been sweating it out on the field since the start of this week.
(With inputs from IANS/PTI)
Read More:
IPL 2020: Rift Over Hotel Room Reason Behind Suresh Raina’s Exit!
IPL 2020: 12 CSK Members Test COVID-19 Positive, Team Quarantined
The tournament starts on September 19 and will be entirely in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) behind closed doors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
MI and CSK were originally scheduled to play the opening match of the 2020 season at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on March 29. However the outbreak of the pandemic in India and the subsequent lockdown led to the tournament being postponed indefinitely.
After the tournament opener, which will be held on a Saturday, Dubai will host its first game on Sunday with the Delhi Capitals taking on Kings XI Punjab followed by the third match on Monday between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The matches then shift to Sharjah where Rajasthan Royals face CSK on September 22. Kolkata Knight Riders start their campaign with a match against MI the next day in Abu Dhabi, the BCCI said in a statement.
There will be 10 double headers with the first match starting at 3.30 p.m. IST and the second at 7.30 p.m. IST. Twenty four matches will be held in Dubai, 20 in Abu Dhabi and 12 in Sharjah, it said.
(IANS)
Related Stories:
MS Dhoni Will Lead CSK Transition Same As He Did With India: Dwayne Bravo
IPL 13: Schedule To Be Released On Sunday, Informs Chairman Brijesh Patel
"We've got a great balance of experience, the skill required for T20 cricket and the youngsters in the team who are eager to take up the responsibility and look forward to opportunities that we're going to provide them. It's an exciting time," Kohli told RCB TV.
"As I said, that 2016 season which we've all loved to be a part of...it was such a memorable season. Since then, to be honest, this is the most balanced I've felt about the squad, as a system where we're heading. It's been very well taken care of now; it's up to us to execute those things on the field."
RCB are yet to win an IPL trophy. They reached the finals thrice, but ended up on the losing side on all occasions.
Kohli said that the set-up would "disconnect with things that happened in the past" and look to move forward.
"It's about disconnecting with things that have happened in the past and not taking that baggage. We've done that way too many times. Just because we have a bunch of players who are so skilled and people like seeing them play, that's why people have had expectations. We're not going to think of 'what ifs'; we know what we can do. We're very keen and hungry to do it."
Kohli also spoke on South African batting star AB de Villiers, saying he has looked calmer than ever. "We've never felt so calm going into a season before. He (de Villiers) is coming from a very different space, he's been enjoying his life, is relaxed. He came out to play and is looking like playing in 2011 still - he's as fit as ever."
The BCCI faces innumerable challenge to host the mega event. Still the richest cricket board on earth along with the broadcasters and sponsors will no doubt be happy for the final push. The cricketers also face a daunting task of playing in silent stadiums while battling the desert heat. However the thrill of T20, passion for the game and the perks could keep them motivated and sharp. The fans are also over elated despite the sordid side of the biggest cricket league in the world which often pops up controversies.
IPL is an immensely popular tournament which attracts the best players worldwide, making it the most competitive and exciting event. Initially it seemed impossible to conduct the cash-rich league due to Covid-19, which caused the cancellation or postponement of many prestigious international events including the Olympics, Wimbledon and T-20 Cricket World Cup. BCCI was committed to organise the tournament and kept searching for windows. After the postponement of T-20 World Cup, they got the much needed window for the mega event.
Organising IPL in India was out of question because of the pandemic and BCCI hunted for several countries before finally settling in UAE. Then it will not be a new experience for organisers of IPL. The grand event has been successfully held in South Africa in 2009 and part of the 2014 edition was held in UAE because of the general elections in India.
Normally the cash-rich tournament is held during March-May window. But there is a delay of six months this time. However the delay has whetted the appetite of one and all associated with the gentleman’s game and set the euphoria intact among the diehard cricket fans. Most of the owners of the franchises are pretty much confident that the 13th edition of the mega tournament is going to be the best ever. Meanwhile they are also concerned about the safety of the players. Even one Covid-19 case in the midst of the event could spell the doom.
No risk please
With reports coming in that there are thousands of active coronavirus cases in the UAE, the conduct of the IPL has not received unanimous approval. On the other hand since IPL attracts worldwide attention, fingers would be raised against the organisers if the pandemic cast its shadow over the tournament. The apprehension became scary when some players of the Chennai Super Kings tested positives before the start of the tournament. Thankfully the scary episode is behind now and most of the players in the CSK squad have recovered.
The tournament is pretty long with eight teams vying for the top honours in altogether 60 matches spread over 53 days. The local officials are allowing limited number of spectators at all the venues. But it could be risky and the organisers can’t afford any slip up. Cricket should be allowed to prosper in the ground, but the larger prospective of other’s welfare should not be ignored. The virus still remains a real threat and the hunger for profit should not over ride health concerns.
No trouble in getting sponsors
Despite the fact that Vivo withdrew as the title sponsor of the 13th edition following public sentiments against China following the border face-off, BCCI never experienced any trouble in getting sponsors for the high profile tournament. Many major corporate houses threw their hats into the ring and finally Fantasy sports platform Dream 11 made a successful bid for the title rights. Over the years the promotional amount has escalated, the rates for advertising slots have gone up equally but the money has always been forthcoming.
According to the assumption of few media agency heads the tournament will bring in advertisements given that the festive window is vital from an advertising viewpoint. Given the fact that it is the festive season, many sponsors and advertisers will be interested in promotional and brand building exercises. More ever IPL being a high impact property is sure to attract financial backing of all sorts.
More than money
IPL is more than just money for the BCCI. It supplies oxygen into cricket’s eco system. The revenue generated from the mega tournament helps BCCI organise domestic tournaments across all age group. In 2019-20 season BCCI altogether arranged a record 2,305 matches in the men’s and the women’s categories. The operational costs of all these matches, salary hike of domestic players and umpires have increased BCCI’s expenses. The pension scheme of former cricketers and the money provided to the state units for the infrastructural development, have also added to BCCI’s financial burden. IPL just keeps the cricketing ecosystem in the country healthy.
No prediction please
From now on the focus will be shifted on the eight teams, the players and how they fare and who will win the trophy. So far six of the eight main teams have won the trophy in the last 12 editions of the competition. It shows that predicting a winner in the T-20 format is a futile activity.
Indian Paisa League
Rs 5,000 crore: Earning of franchises and broadcasters
Rs 3,200 crore: Star pays to BCCI per year as part of broadcast deal
Rs 440 crore: BCCI missed out after Vivo pulled out as title sponsor. This year’s title sponsor Dream 11 is paying only half the amount
Rs 27.5 crore: Earned by franchises from title sponsorship last season. This season they will only get half of it
Rs 10 crore: BCCI will pay a UK-based health care unit for conducting Covid-19 tests
IPL tracker
Feb 18: BCCI announces IPL 13 will begin on March 29
March 13: With Covid-19 positive cases increasing IPL was suspended till April 15
April 16: With lockdown 1.0 being implemented BCCI suspends IPL till further notice
July 20: ICC postpones T20 World Cup to be played in Australia from October to November
August 2: BCCI confirms that IPL 13 will be played from September 19-November 10 in UAE
August 6: Vivo and BCCI suspend their title sponsorship deal for a year
August 19: Dream 11 was announced as the title sponsor with half of Vivo’s price
Read More:
Another Blow For Chennai Super Kings, Harbhajan Singh Pulls Out Of IPL 2020
Another Blow For Chennai Super Kings, Harbhajan Singh Pulls Out Of IPL 2020
Like in previous editions, the Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians and MS Dhoni-captained CSK would enter the tournament as clear favourites. However, considering the unpredictability that the T20 format offers, the other six teams cannot be ruled out of contention -- a fact that both MI and CSK would appreciate.
The T20 format tends to make teams more equally balanced, with the element of luck also playing a major part in a team's fortune as the game has so many uncertainties that on a given day.
Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are yet to put their hands on the IPL trophy and thus these teams would be eager to win their maiden title this year.
The pitches at the three venues are expected to be batsmen friendly with a little assistance for the spinners. Thus, while one can expect high scoring matches with a plethora of fours and sixes in the initial games, as the tournament progresses, the matches may turn out to be low-scoring ones.
Fast bowlers are likely to get movement only initially when the ball is new but once it gets old, they would need to outsmart the batsmen through variations in length, speed and other such deceptions.
The heat and humidity in the emirates would certainly play a major role in the performances of individuals and teams. Also, in the absence of loud cheering and crowds behind the players, it would be really interesting to see how the players manage to motivate themselves while playing in front of empty stands, especially in the second half of the tournament when boredom sets in and the eagerness and enthusiasm would be on gradual ebb.
RCB skipper Virat Kohli, one of the modern-day greats, has made it very clear that there would be no drop in intensity from his players and they would give their all on the field. "All of us have thought about playing in empty stadiums. Of course, it's going to be a strange feeling. But that feeling has changed a little bit till now after having gone through a lot of practice sessions and a couple of practice games with the teams as well," he said a few days ago.
"Crowd is a part of your journey when they are watching you. We have an opportunity to bring joy to so many other people and so from that point of view I can only say that our intensity level or passion won't drop because there are no crowds. There is a larger reason for why this is happening and we are going to stay true to that," he has declared.
Another important focal point of this year's IPL would be Dhoni, who on August 15 hung his international cricket boots. The 39-year-old player has been away from cricket for a year and that's why his performance in the tournament is bound to be a subject of headlines whenever he steps on the field.
So, will Dhoni be able to lead CSK to their fourth IPL title and equal Mumbai Indians' record? Or, will Mumbai Indians win their fifth crown? Or, will the testing and energy sapping desert of the UAE see a new champion emerge? The answers to these -- and many other questions -- will be answered on November 10, when the final will be played.
(IANS)
Read More:
Finally: IPL 2020 Kicks Off In UAE From Tomorrow
IPL 2020 Schedule Announced, MI Face CSK In Opener, Check Details Here
Ricky Ponting and Anil Kumble are arguably two of the biggest names in cricket and the dazzling array of talent in both the teams would seek to draw inspiration from their respective heavyweight coaches in their tournament opener.
Man-to-man, Delhi Capitals seem to have a slight edge, more so in the spin department, with the trio of R Ashwin, Amit Mishra and Axar Patel streets ahead of their counterparts from the Mohali-based side.
Spin is expected to play a big role on the UAE pitches.
The match, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, will also be a face-off between skippers KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, both seen as future India captaincy material.
On the batting front, the Capitals have one of the best assortments of India internationals, comprising Prithvi Shaw, Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, besides West Indian Shimron Hetmyer.
In this scenario, India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (strike-rate below 120), who was bought from Rajathan Royals, may be left out.
The KXIP also boast of some of the finest clean hitters in the form of Chris Gayle, Glenn Maxwell and Rahul himself.
Maxwell's confidence must be sky high after his ODI series-winning century (108) against England in Manchester. He also had a memorable run the last time the IPL was held in UAE, albeit partially, in 2014 when he hammered 552 runs in 16 games.
The KXIP have a dangerous opening pairing in Gayle and Rahul with Mayank Agarwal to follow. But it remains to be seen whether the 40-year-old Gayle will continue to be a regular feature at the top of the order this time around.
The Capitals may come up with a surprise by picking Big Bash League's highest wicket-taker Daniel Sams along with Kagiso Rabada, leaving out senior India pacer Ishant Sharma, who has had an underwhelming IPL over the years.
For KXIP, India strike bowler Mohammad Shami will spearhead the pace department.
It is in the slow-bowling department that the KXIP could face problems. They don't have any big names following the departure of Ashwin. Mujeeb Zadran is the sole established name.
Ashwin, on the other hand, would like to leave behind all the talk about 'Mankading' and focus on the job at hand alongside Mishra, who is the IPL's second highest wicket-taker with 157 scalps.
History, though, favours KXIP who have won four out of the last five matches but it was the Capitals who emerged victorious in the last match between the two sides in the 2019 season.
Match starts at 7.30 IST.
Read More:
IPL 13: Ryan Harris Appointed As Delhi Capitals’ New Bowling Coach
IPL 2020: Team Overcoming Tough Conditions Will Triumph
The match is a repeat of the 2019 final which MI won to clinch their fourth title.
CSK captain MS Dhoni said that he has picked Shane Watson, Faf Du Plessis, Lungi Ngidi and Sam Curran as their four overseas players allowed in the playing XI while MI captain Rohit Sharma named Quinton de Kock, Kieron Pollard, James Pattinson and Trent Boult as his foreign players in the XI.
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (captain), Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, James Pattinson, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
Chennai Super Kings: Shane Watson, Murali Vijay, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (captain, wicketkeeper), Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Piyush Chawla, Deepak Chahar, Sam Curran, Lungi Ngidi
Read More
IPL 2020 Match Preview: Delhi Face KXIP Challenge In Battle Of Power-hitters
Odisha T20 Skipper Gets Candid Over Missing IPL: ‘I Don’t Regret’, Says Govind
Both sides ended their respective 20 overs on 157/8 after which KXIP managed to score just two runs batting first in the Super Over.
DC took three balls to go past that total and get off to a winning start in the season.
Stoinis was the star of the day for DC as he picked two wickets off the last two balls of the match before which he smashed 53 off 21 balls to take an otherwise struggling DC past the 150-run mark.
KXIP were tottering at 55/5 at the start of the 11th over of the match after which opener Mayank Agarwal turned things around for them. Mayank scored a masterful 89 off 60 balls and his innings turned the tables to the extent that KXIP needed one run to win off the last three balls. But, he holed out at sweeper cover off the penultimate ball before Chris Jordan hit it straight to square leg.
Earlier, DC were on 127/7 at the end of the penultimate over of the innings at the Dubai International Stadium after which Stoinis smashed 26 runs off Chris Jordan in the final over. Additionally, the over included a wide and a dramatic final ball in which Stoinis was run out after taking a run but Jordan had overstepped. Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada ran two runs off the free-hit to make 30 runs off the over.
Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 157/8 (Marcus Stoinis 53, Shreyas Iyer 39; Mohammed Shami 3/15) beat Kings XI Punjab 157/8 (Mayank Agarwal 89, KL Rahul 21; R Ashwin 2/2, Rabada 2/28) in Super Over
(IANS)
Also Read:
Are There Any Doubts: Sachin Tendulkar Backs Mumbai Indians To Win IPL 13 Title
IPL 2020: Team Overcoming Tough Conditions Will Triumph
While SRH have clinched the trophy once in 2016, besides the 2009 triumph in their earlier avatar as Deccan Chargers, the Virat Kohli-led RCB are yet to lay their hands on the coveted trophy.
For this year's edition of the lucrative league, the David Warner-led SRH have made a few changes in their squad. The 'Orange Army' will miss the services of ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was released by the franchise after being banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to report the approach of bookies elsewhere.
With skipper Warner and Jonny Bairstow, the SRH are considered to have one of the best opening pairs and if the duo gets going, the Hyderabad franchise will pose a big threat for their opponents.
Warner is also the leading run scorer for SRH after accumulating 3,271 runs from 71 games, averaging 55.44. Bairstow, who joined SRH last year, also impressed everyone after gathering 445 runs from 10 games at a decent average of 55.62.
The pace attack will be led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who hasn't played any professional game since December 2019. The 30-year-old has 109 wickets from 86 games and is the leading wicket-taker for SRH. Bhuvneshwar, however, will need support from Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma, Basil Thampi and Siddarth Kaul.
If SRH want to replicate their 2016 show, a lot will depend on how their spinners perform in the low and slow tracks in the UAE.
The spin attack will be led by Afghanistan leggie Rashid Khan and will be supported by his compatriot Mohammad Nabi, who had a decent outing in he just concluded Caribbean Premier League. Nabi picked 12 wickets from as many games with an economy rate of 5.10.
Other than these two, SRH also have left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem in their ranks and the Jharkhand spinner is known to be very accurate with his line and length.
Warner's side also has spin-bowling all-rounders in Fabian Allen, Sanjay Yadav, Abdul Samad, and Abhishek Sharma.
On the other hand, RCB is one of the three teams in the league who are yet to win the trophy.
Kohli-led RCB's biggest strength has been their batting and the skipper is undoubtedly, one of the best in business when it comes to white-ball cricket. The team management along with Kohli will hope that he replicates the form he had shown in the 2016 edition where he had scored four centuries.
Alongside Kohli, the RCB also have one of the best explosive T20 batsmen in AB de Villiers. The RCB's batting mostly revolves around Kohli and de Villiers and if the duo fires, things will be easier for the team. Moreover, they both have also shown over the past how to be a livewire in the ground when it comes to fielding.
Also with the inclusion of Aaron Finch, the RCB's top-order looks quite effective.
Youngster Devdutt Padikkal is likely to open the innings with Finch while Joshua Phillipe is the other opening option for the RCB.
Also, all-rounder Chris Morris has been a great addition to the side and will play the role of the explosive finisher that the RCB always looked for.
The RCB franchise has acquired the services of Morris and Isuru Udana to overcome their weaknesses at 'death' bowling.
In the middle-order, the RCB has some quality with the likes of Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube and Morris, who all have the ability to demolish any bowling attack.
Experienced South African pacer Dale Steyn will lead the charge of the pace bowling attack while Navdeep Saini, Isuru Udana, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav will look to hand equal support to the lethal pacer.
Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal, , Pawan Negi, Adam Zampa and Washington Sundar whosoever gets a chance in the playing XI, are the spin bowling options for skipper Kohli and looking at the nature of wicket in the UAE, they all need to step up if the RCB wantsto march ahead in the league.
Overall, SRH looks slightly better than their opponents for the Monday game but with the change in venues and conditions, it could be anybody's game in Dubai
(IANS)
Read More:
IPL 2020: Team Overcoming Tough Conditions Will Triumph
IPL 2020: Fresh Dhoni Raring To Go, Fleming
The class and calmness Padikkal (56 off 42, 8 fours) showed in his first high-profile game was remarkable, so much so that Australian limited overs captain Aaron Finch (29 off 27) was happy to play second fiddle at the other end.
Sunrisers pulled things back in the middle overs following a 90-run opening stand between Padikkal and Finch. De Villiers (51 off 30) came up with crucial boundary hits towards the end to take the team score past 160.
The 20-year-old Padikkal, possessing a near perfect balance in the crease, played all around the ground, playing the pull and aerial cover drive with equal confidence.
Padikkal got going with three boundaries in an over off left-arm pacer T Natarajan. The left-handed opener brought up his half-century with a slog sweep over the fielder at deep square leg.
With the openers looking good, RCB cruised to 86 for no loss in 10 overs. However, both Padikkal and Finch fell off successive balls and that put the brakes on the scoring rate with RCB collecting only 30 runs from the next five overs.
Skipper Virat Kohli departed after scoring 14 off 13, leaving de Villiers to provide the final flourish. The South African star delivered once again, smashing his 200th six for RCB in the process.
There was also an injury scare for Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who limped off the field with an ankle injury after bowling four balls in his debut game for the Sunrisers.
(PTI)
Read More:
IPL 2020: Team Overcoming Tough Conditions Will Triumph
IPL 2020: Fresh Dhoni Raring To Go, Fleming
The RCB first posted 163/5 in their allotted 20 overs and then defended the total by causing a sensational batting collapse at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing 164, the SRH didn't have the best of starts to their chase as they lost skipper David Warner (6), who was run out. Manish Pandey, who came in next, stitched a 71-run partnership with opener Jonny Bairstow. However, just when things seemed to be sailing smoothly for the SRH, Pandey got out while trying to hit a maximum against Yujvendra Chahal after scoring 34 runs.
Priyam Garg, making his IPL debut, then joined forces with Bairstow who kept on smashing boundaries at will and scored 61 runs off just 43 balls before he was bowled by Chahal in the 16th over. Vijay Shankar, the next batsman, went back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers as he was undone by a beautiful Chahal googly.
The SRH then lost two quick wickets and their chase went off the track. Right-arm pacer Navdeep Saini picked two wickets in his final over and sealed the win for Kohli & Co. The SRH got bundled out for 153, falling short of the target by 10 runs.
Earlier, put into bat, the RCB had posted 163/4 in their allotted 20 overs, riding on half-centuries from Padikkal and AB de Villiers. Padikkal, who opened the innings for the RCB, scored 56 runs off 42 balls, with the help of eight fours. de Villiers, on the other hand, played a 51-run knock which came of just 30 deliveries.
The RCB will next play the Kings XI Punjab on Thursday while the SRH will lock horns with the Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.
Brief scores: RCB 163/5 in 20 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 56, AB de Villiers 51; Abhishek Sharma 2/16) beat SRH 153 all out in 19.4 overs (Jonny Bairstow 61, Manish Pandey 34; Yujvendra Chahal 3/18) by 10 runs.
(IANS)
Read More:
Finally: IPL 2020 Kicks Off In UAE From Tomorrow
For the Steve Smith-captained Royals, this will be the first match of the season. Looking at CSK's close win over Mumbai, the Royals' team management would seek something extra from their players against the three-time champions that have dominated the league in almost every season.
The 'Yellow Brigade' started the season in the absence of two of their star players -- Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh - who have opted out of the tournament for personal reasons. However, class acts by Ambati Rayudu (71) and Faf du Plessis (58 not out) ensured the CSK a comfortable win against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi.
Despite getting jolted in the initial overs, Rayudu and du Plessis steadied the ship for Chennai, making the Mumbai bowlers work hard in the hot and humid conditions.
Murli Vijay and Shane Watson opened for against Mumbai but both failed to fire. The duo would try to leave the past behind when they face the Royals on Tuesday. Moreover, Sam Curran, who was promoted by Dhoni ahead of himself, didn't disappoint his team after playing a cameo of 18 runs off six balls.
While the CSK's batting looks quite settled, their bowlers too didn't disappoint. After initial onslaught by MI opener Quinton de Kock, SaurabhTiwary and skipper Rohit Sharma, they made a comeback in the game and struck their opponents at regular intervals.
The Chennai bowlers ensured their arch-rivals didn't put up a big total and that played a crucial role in Chennai's five-wicket win. Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla may not be considered as a vital cog in the CSK side, However, the 31-year-old bowler bought all his past experience into play and utilised the conditions quite effectively as he ended with a appreciable figures in his allotted quota of overs.
Similarly, Lungi Ngidi, Ravindra Jadeja, and Deepak Chahar also stepped it up when it mattered for Chennai. But the team management would certainly hope that the trio don't leak many runs like in the previous game.
On the other hand, barring the inaugural season in 2008, Royals are yet to take the trophy home, despite having some quality players in almost every season.
Eyeing a decent outing this time, the Royals management has signed T20 specialists, both from the Indian domestic circuit and abroad. With the experienced players like Robin Uthappa, Shreyas Gopal and Varun Aaron, and youngsters like Yashaswi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Kartik Tyagi, the Royals have tried to form a perfect blend.
Moreover, with star all-rounder like Ben Stokes and skipper Smith, the Royals boast some high quality cricketers. While Stokes is undoubtedly one of the best all-rounders of the modern day cricket, Smith has shown his leadership quality in almost every format.
Royals will also hope the opener Jos Buttler replicates his 2019 form when he amassed 311 runs from just eight matches. The Englishman is expected to give explosive starts and if he gets equal support from Sanju Samson, Royals could either overhaul targets or set some massive ones.
The major cause of concern for the Royals' team management will be the absence of Stokes, who is currently in New Zealand with his ailing father and his arrival is still undecided. The team will bank heavily on Stokes and the sooner he joins the team, the better it will be for them.
With, Jofra Archer, Jaydev Unadkat, Varun Aaron, Ankit Rajpoot, Rahul Tewatia, Mayank Markande, Oshane Thomas, and Andrew Tye, Royals also have a lot to offer on the bowling front. However, it will depend on how fast they adapt to the hot and sultry conditions here.
Going by the past encounters between the two teams, the CSK unquestionably hold an edge over the Royals as they have emerged victorious 14 times from 21 games while the Jaipur-based franchise has won the remaining clashes. But Tuesday will a new chapter and it could be anybody's game.
(IANS)
Read More:
IPL Opener: CSK Ride On Rayudu To Beat Mumbai Indians
Ahead Of IPL 13 Opener, Rohit Sharma Says Always Enjoy Battle Against CSK
Sent into bat, Rajasthan lost young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (6) in the third over but then Samson joined hands with Smith as the duo played sensibly initially before the Kerala wicket-keeper batsman went hammer and tongs at opposition spinners.
Samson (74 off 32) looked in great nick, while Smith, returning to competitive cricket after recovering from concussion suffered before the ODI series against England, made 67 off 49 balls to lay the base for Rajasthan's total.
In the final over, Jofra Archer (27 off 8 balls) hit four sixes off Lungi Ngidi as Royals got 30 runs to take the score past 215.
In all, Royals hit 17 sixes with Samson accounting for nine of them and Smith and Archer having four each in their kitties.
While Smith played the second fiddle initially, Samson took the CSK spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Piyush Chawla to task taking 95 runs of eight overs collectively.
Introduced into the attack in the seventh over, Jadeja was clobbered for consecutive sixes by Samson before Chawla went for four sixes in his first over -- three by Samson and one by Smith.
Samson, thus, brought up his quickest IPL fifty in just 19 balls with the help of one boundary and six hits over the fence.
If that was not enough for Chawla, the leg-spinner again leaked in his next over as both Samson and Smith took him to cleaners.
CSK made a much-needed comeback in the match in the 12th over with twin blows in the form of in-form Samson and unlucky David Miller.
While after some great hitting display, Samson fell in search one too many, caught by Deepak Chahar off Lungi Ngidi, Miller departed two balls later in search on a non-existent double.
CSK made another comeback into the match in the 17th over when Sam Curran dismissed Rahul Tewatia and Riyan Parag before Smith departed in the 119th over in search of big hits.
In the last over, Jofra Archer used his long handle to great effect and smashed Ngidi to all parts of the ground and above it to pick up 30 runs.
After enduring umpiring errors, followed by a Super Over heartbreak, in their campaign opener against Delhi Capitals (DC), the KL Rahul-led KXIP would look open their account against Virat Kohli's RCB at the Dubai International Cricket stadium here on Thursday.
Against DC, Punjab rode on MayankAgarwal's blistering 60-ball 89 to approach the 158-run target. While the other Punjab players failed to leave an impact, and the team suffering hiccups at regular intervals, it was Mayank who single-handedly propelled Punjab and very nearly sealed a win.
However, just when KXIP was on the brink of a win, needing just one off three deliveries, they ended up losing two wickets, and eventually the contest slipped into the Super Over. Later, in the Super Over, Kagiso Rabada ensured the night belonged to DC.
On Thursday, KXIP will aim to revisit their over dependence on the opening combo of Rahul and Agarwal, and expect the middle order, comprising Karun Nair, Glenn Maxwell and Nicholas Pooran, to fire.
While the self-proclaimed 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle was not included in the playing XI against DC, the KXIP team management might bring him in a move to bolster the middle order by pushing the in-form Agarwal to No.3.
In bowling department, in-form pacer Mohammed Shami will once again try to replicate his previous performance where he had returned with impressive figures of 3/15.
West Indian pacer Sheldon Cottrell is expected to share the workload with Shami. Rookie leggie Ravi Bishnoi, who had a decent maiden outing against DC, is once again likely to feature in the XI as the team management would surely not want to make too many changes in the initial stage of the league.
In the other camp, Kohli's RCB will be high on confidence after kicking-off their campaign with a 10-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
However, RCB has their own problems to overcome, especially in the pace department. Lethal South African pacer Dale Steyn did manage a wicket. However, the 37-year-old was nowhere close to his best. UmeshYadav also disappointed after leaking 48 runs from four overs and remaining wicketless.
Navdeep Saini and Shivam Dube were on target, picking up two wickets each, but it was leg-spinner YuzvendraChahal who took full advantage of the prevailing conditions and emerged as the 'game-changer' with three scalps.
RCB, who are yet to lay their hands on the coveted trophy in 12 attempts, will hope for a repeat of another spectacular opening from Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch. It was young Devdutt who smoked 56 off 42 deliveries to set the tone against SRH. With the likes of Kohli and South African superstar AB de Villiers in the middle order, another mouth-watering contest is on cards.
(IANS)
Read More:
IPL 2020: Team Overcoming Tough Conditions Will Triumph
IPL 2020: Fresh Dhoni Raring To Go, Fleming
Rahul, who was dropped in the 17th and then again in the 18th over by RCB skipper Virat Kohli, played the role of sheet anchor, scoring 132 off 69 balls that was laced with 14 boundaries and seven sixes.
With his spectacular knock, he surpassed Rishabh Pant to post the highest individual score by an Indian in IPL history.
Playing his 60th innings, Rahul also became the fastest Indian to reach the 2000 IPL runs.
The stylish batsman clipped away a full length delivery to fine leg for four to break Sachin Tendulkar's record, who reached the milestone in 63 matches.
Opening the batting with Rahul, Mayank Agarwal (26) looked dangerous and shared a 57-run stand with his captain. However, with the introduction of spin into the attack in the seventh over, Yuzvendra Chahal (1/25) struck with the last ball, cleaning up Agarwal (26) with a delightful googly.
Nicholas Pooran (17) and Glenn Maxwell (5) once again failed to make an impact as Shivam Dube (2/33) accounted for the duo. Karun Nair pitched in with an eight-ball 15.
The pace troika of Umesh Yadav (0/35), Dale Steyn (0/57) and Navdeep Saini (0/37) had a torrid time as the KXIP skipper was on fire in his second game as captain.
All players wore black armbands to honour Australian cricketer turned commentator Dean Jones, who died in Mumbai due to a cardiac arrest on Thursday.
(PTI)
Read More:
KL Rahul First-Choice Keeper In White-Ball Cricket: Former Wicket-Keepers
Umpiring Error Affected Outcome Of KXIP Match Against Delhi Capitals
This was Rahul's second IPL century and fourth overall in T20s. It was also the highest score by any Indian in the IPL, surpassing the previous record of 128 not out held by Rishabh Pant.
Rahul reached three figures off 62 balls and was helped over the line by his opposite number Virat Kohli dropping a couple of sitters in the 17th and 18th over. He ended the innings unbeaten on 132 off 69 balls, his innings laced with 14 fours and seven sixes. This is the first century by any player in the ongoing season of the league.
On the way, he also became the fastest Indian batsman to 2,000 IPL runs, surpassing an eight-year-old record held by batting great Sachin Tendulkar. Rahul brought up the landmark in his 60th innings while Tendulkar reached the landmark in 63 innings.
(IANS)
Rahul, who was dropped by RCB skipper Virat Kohli twice, slammed an unbeaten 132 off 69 balls, highest score by an Indian in IPL history, to fire KXIP to 206/3.
In response, RCB were never in the chase and were bundled out for 109 in 17 overs.
Brief Scores: KXIP 206/3 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 132 not out; Yuzvendra Chahal 1/25, Shivam Dube 2/33). RCB 109/10 in 17 overs (Sundar 30; Bishnoi 3/32, Ashwin 3/21).
(PTI)
Also Read:
IPL 2020: Rahul Rewrites Record Books
In their last game, the M.S. Dhoni-led side suffered a 16-run defeat, and barring Faf du Plessis most of the CSK players failed in leaving an impact. Moreover, Dhoni's decision to come down the order backfired and the charismatic captain received a backlash from not only fans but also many cricketing greats like Sunil Gavaskar, Gautam Gambhir, and others. Dhoni later clarified on his decision to come lower down the order. The captain himself wasn't happy with the bowlers.
Also, the decision to replace an unfit Ambati Rayudu with Ruturaj Gaikwad didn't click as the debutant was back in the dugout without troubling the scorers. Moreover, CSK openers failed in both games and that is another cause of concern for the team management.
Sam Curran, who has been promoted up the order, played a cameo in both games but the England all-rounder needs to spend some time in the middle. Dhoni had hit three maximums in the final over against the Royals, but that couldn't win the game.
It will be interesting to see how the CSK skipper will now approach the game against Delhi.
On the other hand, Delhi were on the verge of defeat in their first game against Kings XI Punjab before Marcus Stoinis rescued his side to push the contest to the Super Over decider. Later, it was Kagiso Rabada who showed his talent with the ball and ensured the night belonged to DC.
The DC top-order failed to fire against Punjab while Rishabh Pant and skipper Shreyas Iyer showed some resistance with the bat. But they were unable to convert their efforts into a big innings. It was Stoinis, who hammered 53 off 21 balls to propel his side to a fighting total.
The team management is likely to stick with the same combination on Friday, but at the same time it will also hope the top-order to provide an ideal start.
Meanwhile, the DC bowlers had a satisfactory outing against Punjab but the major concern for the Iyer-led team would be the injury of ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who picked a couple of wickets in his very first over, but had to leave the field later. Ashwin's recovery becomes crucial here.
CSK have dominated DC, winning 15 of the 21 games. But both the teams will start afresh and will be equally desperate to outdo each other. And fans can expect another nail-biting contest on Friday.
(IANS)
Read More:
IPL Opener: CSK Ride On Rayudu To Beat Mumbai Indians
IPL 13: All-Rounder Marcus Stoinis leads Delhi Capitals To Victory Over KXIP In Super Over