The outbreak of the global pandemic Covid-19 has led to doubts over the sporting events in the world. The Indian Premier League was to begin from March 29 but it was pushed to April 15.

In fact, no official statement has been made by the organisers on the fate of the tournament. Furthermore, hosting a big tournament like the IPL in the next two-three months is off the table in the current health crisis, the whole world finds itself in.

Meanwhile, it is now reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India can target the October-November window to host the IPL provided if the T20 World Cup is deferred. The T20 World Cup is going to take place in Australia from October 18 to November 15. However, the ICC had recently confirmed that the T20I showpiece is likely to go ahead as scheduled if the current situation improves.

The IPL is the biggest T20 league in the world and all the players look forward to playing in the competition. In fact, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen had recently mentioned that the cricket season must kick off with the IPL.

April-May is reserved for the IPL in the Future Tour Programme and there is no doubt that the tournament can not even start in May. Consequently, the Indian board is looking at other options to host the IPL in the current year.

Meanwhile, the second edition of the IPL was hosted in South Africa as there were general elections in India. The IPL 2009 was completed in 37 days and thus there is no doubt that the whole tourney can be completed in one month if there are enough doubleheaders.

One of the officials has revealed that the heat will not be an issue in October-November as the temperature will be ideal for cricket.

“Heat won’t be a factor in those months and given the number of venues we have, it is definitely possible,” an official in the know-how told New Indian Express.

The IPL is hanging on by a thin thread and it is going to be difficult for the BCCI to host the tournament

Written by: Gautam Chauhan