IPL 2021: Matches in Delhi to go ahead with strict bio-bubble measures
The 2021 Indian Premier League is the 14th edition of the fruitful Twenty20 league. The tournament is currently being held in India in a limited capacity, across six venues, owing to the COVID restrictions in the country. Meanwhile, none of the teams has the home advantage this season.
The Indian Premier League 2021 is off to a flier, having produced high-quality matches aplenty within just a couple of weeks. So far, the matches have been held in Chennai and Mumbai, while things would move to Delhi, starting Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the national capital happens to be one of the worst affected states amid the second wave of the COVID-19. As of Friday, there have been 91,000 fresh cases, besides 13,193 deaths, while the shortage of oxygen supply continues to haunt the infected.
Consequently, many wondered if it was feasible enough to conduct the matches in the state. Nonetheless, the games in Delhi are scheduled to go ahead, while Delhi & Districts Cricket Association has expressed faith in the foolproof bio-bubble created for the safety of the players. Furthermore, every participating member has been advised to travel wearing double masks and full PPE kits.
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"It is on schedule. The bubble is absolutely intact. If I am not part of the bubble, I can't meet anybody. It is absolutely safe," told Rohan Jaitley, DDCA President, to ESPNCricinfo.
"There is a health and safety protocol that is already in place where teams move around in bubbles, they stay in bubbles, practice happens in a bubble, and any and every person who comes in contact is part of the bubble. There is no one who is outside the bubble," he added.
Furthermore, the IPL governing council did not have any discussions regarding the same with the franchise. As per the schedule, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals are the four teams slated to play at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium during the Delhi leg.