IPL 2021- The Beginning
Everytime when we think life is attaining normalcy, things are slowly getting back on track, the pandemic is still there but we’ll bear it a little, it is exactly at this point that Fate takes a U-turn. On 4th May we heard that IPL 2021 would be suspended exactly at the halfway stage.
On 3rd May, Monday, BCCI confirmed that mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and medium-pacer Sandeep Warrier tested positive for the coronavirus. Barring the duo, the rest of the KKR contingent’s tests had come negative. Soon after this, news came through that Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) chief executive officer Kasi Viswanathan, bowling coach L Balaji and a bus cleaner had also tested positive. On May 4, SunRisers Hyderabad’s Wriddhiman Saha and Delhi Capitals’ Amit Mishra also tested positive. Hence, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on 4th May, in an emergency meeting unanimously decided to postpone the IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect.
BCCI is looking at the September-October window before the ICC T20 World Cup to reschedule the remaining 31 matches.
It feels like the Virat-led RCB camp would have been the most disheartened due to the break. Though they qualified for the play-offs last season, this time it really felt like they could win their first-ever IPL title. They clearly ticked all the boxes, their death over bowling improved a lot with nearly 10 runs an over which is the best in the past few seasons, and Harshal Patel emerged as the new death over specialist and has the purple cap. The batting side was also well balanced with Padikkal and Kohli at the top complimented by Maxwell and Ab in the middle order. This year RCB saw a very well-planned and balanced side. But still, they lost to CSK this season.
Speaking of CSK, Dhoni’s team bounced back to grab their rightful position from a disappointing 2020. The team looked to be in a good shape as always, but we haven’t seen vintage Dhoni since 2020, maybe he can play some fantastic knocks in the remaining matches. Delhi Capitals is at the top of the points table with 12 points. The change of name has really turned the fate of the franchise since 2019 and captain Rishab Pant has done a good job. Maybe Shreyas Iyer can take his place back as the captain in the remaining matches, we never know. Shikhar Dhawan of Delhi is the highest run-scorer with 380 runs and has the orange cap as his crown.
The defending champions Mumbai looked good so far and played decent cricket to take their 4th position on the points table. The regular changes in the batting and bowling line by Mumbai is what needs to be addressed. Also the Pandya brothers not performing is a concern.
Rajasthan, Punjab, and Kolkata will have to gear up in the second half of IPL 2021. It is predicted that some players such as Jofra Archer and others may also come in the later stage who were out due to injury. Hyderabad has suffered to win matches but we have to watch out for them, Kane Williamson, the new captain, can turn things around for his team.
This is what the current points table looks like, and spectators can expect even more fun, thrilling and nail-biting matches as the IPL progresses.
No matter who wins the 2021 title, for cricket lovers ultimately ‘the game of cricket’ is the winner.
For all the people out there, there is no reason to get disheartened, live cricket action will be back soon with the Test Championship, the Sri Lankan tour in June, the England tour in August, ICC T20 World Cup in October and also the most awaited IPL 2021!
Paras Madhuram Jasrasaria
F.Y. B.Sc.