xtratime Logo

Xtra Time Web Desk: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is mulling the idea of shifting the IPL 2021 to Mumbai amidst the growing concerns with COVID-19 cases. If plans go accordingly, the cash rich league might be shifted to Mumbai towards the end of this week. The league received a blow with COVID-19 cases hitting Kolkata Knight Riders and CSK camps. KKR bowlers Sandeep Warrier and Varun Chakravarthy have both tested COVID-19 positive and have been isolating from the rest of the squad. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling coach Laxmipati Balaji has also tested positive of the dreaded virus. Five grounds men of  Feroz Shah Kotla too has tested positive, putting the IPL matches in jeopardy in Delhi.  

The main reason for shifting the entire IPL to Mumbai is the availability of three stadiums – Wankhede, Brabourne and DY Patil. It reduces the risk of less travelling from one city to another. The biggest challenge at this moment for BCCI is to find hotels for eight teams and create a bio-bubble. It is notable that BCCI successfully conducted 10 matches in Mumbai during the first leg of IPL 2021.Mumbai Cricket Association cricket ground and Bandra Kurla Complex were used by various teams for training.

The IPL 2021 matches have been played across six cities in three legs with the first one being over at Mumbai and Chennai. Currently the second leg matches are being staged at Delhi and Ahmedabad. The final leg was supposed to take place at Kolkata and Bengaluru. But with growing concerns with the second wave of COVID-19 and emerge of the latest cases among IPL franchises, BCCI remains concerned about pitfalls involved in travel