IPL 2021 is all set to commence in the month of April. Recent rumours and reports suggest that the BCCI has confirmed that this editions IPL will indeed take place in India. The BCCI has finalised five venues for hosting 60 games of the new season of the Indian Premier League across the city of Mumbai and in Pune. BCCI Treasurer on Saturday had suggested that the board is working with the government regarding vaccination and they are confident that IPL 2021 will indeed take place in India.
Speaking to the news agency PTI, Arun Singh Dhumal had said, “We are working on having the IPL in India and we are hopeful that we would be able to organize it. We are not even thinking of a back-up also at this point in time, we are wanting to do it here. India is probably safer than UAE at this point. Hopefully, the situation remains stable and keep improving and we will have it here.” The five venues designated by the BCCo are as follows-
1) Wankhede Stadium- Mumbai:
It is safe to say that the Wankhede Stadium which is situated in Mumbai is one of the most popular cricket stadiums in the world. It would most likely be considered to host the league matches of the tournament, giving the home team Mumbai Indians an added advantage.
2) DY Patil Stadium- Navi Mumbai:
The DY Patil Stadium also known as DY Patil Sports Stadium is a cricket and football stadium at D. Y. Patil campus at Nerul in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was designed by Hafeez Contractor. The stadium was officially inaugurated on 4 March 2008 and was briefly the home ground for IPL team Mumbai Indians. It hosted three IPL matches for the Mumbai Indians and has also hosted the 2008 Indian Premier League Final and 2010 Indian Premier League Final.
3) Reliance Cricket Stadium- Navi Mumbai:
Reliance Cricket Stadium is cricket stadium in Nagothane, Maharashtra. Previously, the stadium was known as Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited Ground. The ground owned by Reliance Industries.
4) MCA- Pune:
The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) is located in the outskirts of Pune. It has hosted several matches including home games of the then Pune based franchise Rising Pune Supergiant. It has also hosted matches for the Chennai Super Kings in 2018.
5) Sardal Patel Stadium- Ahmedabad:
Reports also suggested that the Sardal Patel Stadium in Motera could be venue for the knockouts of the league, like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, at the back end of the month of May. In all likelihood, it could host the playoff games of IPL 2021