IPL 2021 forces ICC rethink on World Test Championship final

The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League would be the 14th edition of the tournament, supposed to be played in April-May. The ICC World Test Championship is the maiden edition of the competition, with the final scheduled to be played in June, at Lord's.

The final date for the ongoing ICC World Test Championship has been pushed back by eight days, to avoid a clash with the 2021 Indian Premier League dates. The final would now be played from June 18-22, at Lord's.

The IPL 2021 would be the 14th edition of the productive tournament, likely to be held in April-May. Mumbai Indians is the record five-time defending champion.

"The WTC Final will now be played from June 18-22 and June 23 will be the reserve day. As background we pushed it back to allow for any quarantine that may be imposed, particularly given the close proximity to the end of the IPL and the original dates) so driven by quarantine," a source from Board of Control for Cricket in India was quoted as saying to PTI.

As of now, the schedule of IPL 2021 is yet to be finalised. Meanwhile, BCCI is also contemplating having an extra team this season, to have a franchise from Ahmedabad, which possesses the world's largest cricket stadium. Furthermore, a mini-auction is also to be held before the tournament, tentatively scheduled for February 18.

As for the WTC, India is currently on the top of the table, with the percentage of maximum points, followed by New Zealand, Australia and England. India will be taking on England at home in a four-Test series, aiming to win it convincingly, to compress its qualifying stance for the final.