Can IPL 2021 realistically happen in September-October after coronavirus postponement?

Understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed. That is the definition of hindsight. When one looks at the recent developments in the postponement of IPL 2021, the definition fits to the letter. Once the bio-bubble was breached, it was only going to be a matter of time before the tournament was going to be postponed. Let us understand the chronology and the factors that led to this situation.

There was a total of 12 bio-bubbles, eight for the sides, two for the match officials and two for the broadcasting crew in IPL 2021. However, the Standard Operating Procedures was flouted right from the very beginning. Hotels were booked randomly. They were far from the ground. The matches were being held in multiple cities. Teams travelled by air. The enforcement of the bio-secure norms was not uniform in all cities. The fact that teams travelled by air broke the fundamental rule in covid management. Air travel spreads covid faster.

There are reports that Varun Chakravarthy, one of the players who tested positive for the coronavirus, went to a hospital which was outside of the bio-bubble. In addition, the teams were given with faulty GPS devices that did not work. When these things happened, it was only a matter of time. If the BCCI had pulled off all the logistical hassles and conducted the IPL brilliantly, then the world would have hailed them. Instead, with the breach, it has now become evident that having multiple bio-bubbles is logistically impossible to keep.

Can IPL happen in September-October?

There is no telling when the coronavirus pandemic will flatten in India. In August, they are predicting a third wave of infections. India’s medical system, already on the brink of collapse, would be further decimated with the third wave. In this scenario, people ignored the second wave. The first lesson would be to not ignore the potential third covid surge.

The BCCI is planning a September-October window for the IPL. This would be incredibly hard to squeeze. India’s Test series against England ends on September 10. The World T20 is in October. For the IPL to happen, two things need to be done. One, the IPL has to take place in UAE. Two, the World T20 must also happen in the UAE.

In India, the lessons of IPL 2021 are that the tournament cannot be held in four-five venues. It must be restricted to one or at maximum, two. If the ICC World T20 is held in India in 4-5 different venues just for the sake of pleasing state associations, it will be a recipe for disaster yet again. India can forsake bilateral series for the IPL. If the World T20 in 2020 could be rescheduled because of COVID-19 and IPL can take its place, then bilateral series are small fry. Realistically, IPL can take place in September-October. But, for that, the coronavirus surge in India must stop.