IPL 2021 is all set to start tomorrow under the heavy thread of Covid. The pandemic has started its second innings in the country with more than 50K infections everyday. So much so that not even a single state is immune to the disease. The situation within the country has become dire. The infection seems to have become doubly dangerous than the initial one. Some of the players, management staff have also been infected with the virus though some of them have already recovered. It remains to be seen whether they are fit enough for the grind of IPL. IPL 2021 and the threat of Covid.
The pandemic has been raging across the country and it is not showing any signs of slowing down. Yes, IPL 2021 will be held indoors. Spectators will not be allowed and the players and the support staff will be under strict bio-bubble. The entire hotel staff will also be under bio-secure bubble. All of these are designed to ensure the safety of everyone involved. The BCCI must not leave any stone unturned that will ensure the safety of the players and the rest. The country’s image in is under stake. The BCCI cannot afford to falter. Afterall, this is the biggest event outside of the World Cup. Will the BCCI be able to pull off a successful and efficient IPL? Only time will answer.
Should the tournament even be held?
Having said that there is a school of thought whether the tournament itself is unnecessary? Shouldn’t the tournament be held outside of India if at all it must be? There is merit in the argument and I am not going to deny that. First of all, the tournament must be held even under the cloud of a severe pandemic. The BCCI have ensured a crowd-free tournament. So, IPL will not be responsible if the pandemic spreads even further.
There are a lot of series that were played over the last one year to ensure continuity of cricket and sports in general. This has only ensured that not many lose their jobs and the professionals who depend on the game is getting paid. Some of the industries that depends on sports for survival have survived. Sports have ensured that the general populace have something to look forward to. It has certainly given everyone an opportunity to vent their frustrations and it has kept everyone entertained. The IPL being such a massive event will ensure that for the next 2 months, every evening, there is something to look forward to.
IPL must be played in India
The IPL must not be held anywhere outside of the country. As I said before, the country’s reputation is at stake. The world is watching to see whether India can conduct a successful tournament under severe stress. The World T20 may probably be moved out of the country if IPL fails. That will be a bigger blow to the country in general and BCCI in specific.
Having said that, I really wonder how the Australian players have all made it a point to be part of the IPL despite the pandemic. The same Australian players refused to travel to South Africa where the infection isn’t this serious. This despite the fact that they would have travelled to South Africa as one team whereas to IPL they travel as individuals. Graeme Smith stands justified because he really angry that Australia refused to travel despite South Africa giving them lot of assurances.
The massive popularity of the IPL
This clearly shows the power or the obscene money involved in IPL. It is not only the money but the incredible opportunities for every player. Players do expand their profile during the IPL. They are able to create a market for themselves eventhough they do not belong to the top performers. The IPL is that rewarding. Each player become a brand. Ofcourse, all of these comes with a cost. They are expected to behave properly though it does not always work. A Virat Kohli, who is probably the worst behaved player, has such a huge following that he is compelled to be rubbish on the field.
Stupid Ganguly
The players are ofcourse under lot of mental stress. They will always be on the lookout for that one situation when they will also come under the scanner for Covid. The players will be nervous when every morning they will be subjected to Covid tests. Others like the Indian cricket board’s president, Saurav Ganguly will do well to keep their mouth shut.
“I feel we Indians are a bit more tolerant than overseas (cricketers). I’ve played with a lot of Englishmen, Australians, West Indians, they just give up on mental health,” the former India captain said at a virtual press conference ahead of the IPL starting this week.
“In the last six-seven months, with so much cricket being going on in the bio-bubble it’s so tough. Just going from the hotel room to the ground, handle the pressure and come back to the room and then get back to the ground again, it’s an absolutely different life.”
Ganguly has never in his career had to play under such enormous mental pressure. All he had to do was to cope with the pressure of the situation and the number of games were less during his playing career. The current players have the double pressure of playing the situation on the field and not being able to move around freely. It is better if officials like him concentrate on running the game rather than commenting on something that they do not understand. I do not think any of the former cricketers have the right to comment on mental pressure that they themselves have never experienced.
Conclusion
Here is hoping for a successful and Covid free IPL 2021. I am not really bothered about who wins because I am not really a fan of IPL.
What do you think of conducting the tournament in India? Do you think IPL must have been moved to Dubai or some other country? Please pass your comments.
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