RGIC Stadium as backup option for BCCI

image: NDTV

As the coronavirus cases are soring in Maharashtra, BCCI has already kept the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium (RGIC) at Hyderabad as the backup option in case if necessary, reported CricTracker.

If you carefully observe the IPL schedule, the teams only need to travel thrice during the tournament. The schedule is designed in such a way that teams require to move less compared to normal IPL.

As of now, no team has received a message from BCCI to move from Mumbai to Hyderabad, reported by ESPNCricinfo.

The coronavirus cases are rising daily in Maharashtra, during the press meet, Chief Minister said, complete lockdown of the state is inevitable if, the COVID-19 cases are increasing at an alarming rate with no alternate solution in sight.

BCCI is confident that players will be fine under the protocols and bio-bubbles. Even though the matches will be played behind closed doors, the state government might object to the match being played if, the state is in lockdown.

If any of the state government is forced to cancel the matches at any of the venues in the schedule, the matches are immediately shifted to Hyderabad.

Eight groundsmen at Wankhede Stadium test positive

image: BCCI

Sports Star reported that eight groundsmen at the Mumbai Wankhede Stadium tested positive for the coronavirus just a week ahead of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League.

Out of 19 members who are tested, eight of them were tested positive. Three of them were confirmed on March 26th and the remaining five members tested positive on the 1st of April.

Recently, the Maharastra government announced that the Lockdown is imminent if the coronavirus cases are continued to surging in the state.

In this situation, the BCCI has to take stricter action towards the virus protocols of the players. Even though the spectators are not allowed to watch the game, the threat of virus contracting to the players is high.

In my view, the matches will be played as planned with a lot of caution towards the virus. If the Maharastra government forced BCCI, the matches will be played elsewhere with the same schedule.

Watch RCB Head Coach Simon say about his role in auction

During the IPL auction time, the Australian government and Indian government requires a two-week mandatory quarantine on each side. So the RCB management and the team head coach Simon worked online during the auction times.

 He shares, how his family appreciated the efforts of the team management by allowing him to take part in crucial team meeting through zoom calls from Australia even in awkward timings.

And he explained how the team got ready for the auction by placing the scouting team to search the players for the Auction.

You can watch the video here.

AB de Villiers joins the RCB team in Chennai

 AB de Villers joins the team just before a week for practice sessions in Chennai. The team is scheduled for their first match on the 9th of April 2021 against the Mumbai Indians.

Royal Challengers Bangalore qualified for the semi-finals despite losing to Sunriser Hyderabad, an important match on the league stage and lost again to the same team in the eliminators.

This year the is expected to do well unlike the previous year. 

Mr. 360 has posted on his Instagram saying that he is joining the team.

Loving the form @imVkohli .. I’m all packed to join the team pic.twitter.com/6rBIV3T3EH

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) March 29, 2021

The Royal Challengers Bangalore team released a video of the skipper joining them in Chennai.

Josh Hazelwood to stay out of 14th edition of IPL

image: CSK twitter

Australian cricketer, Josh Hazelwood has dropped out of the 14 edition of IPL. The player supposed to play for Chennai Super Kings for this season has taken this decision, as he is in either bio bubble or quarantine for the last 10 months playing cricket for CSL or for his country.

He said I want to get ready physically and mentally at home for the next year to cricket.com.au. As there is a T- Twenty world cup and Ashes tournament ahead for the player for 12 months after completing the IPL.

Hazlewood didn't play many matches for the Super Kings last year. He just played in only three matches as they lined up their bowling with domestic options alongside all-rounders Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo for the most part.

He joined the list of players who are missing the tournament.

 Chennai Super Kings official Twitter page tweeted that he would be missed this year.

Will be missing some Josh this #Summerof2021! Hoping for some aussome action soon in #Yellove! #WhistlePodu 💛 🦁 pic.twitter.com/cTRGbFvHP7

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 1, 2021

Delhi Capitals Training Session

 Delhi Capitals just posted the pictures of their training session for the upcoming 14th edition of the Indian Premier League. Recently, the team announced 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishab Pant, as the team's captain after ruling out Shreyas Iyer for a shoulder injury.

The skipper will undergo surgery on the 9th of April, just a day ahead of the teams first match. He congratulated Rishab Pant and welcomed the team management decision.

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Here is the video of the first-day training session of the Delhi Capitals for the upcoming IPL.

 

Punjab Kings training camps for 2021 IPL

 Here are a few images from the Punjab Kings training camp for the upcoming 14th edition of the Indian Premier League. The team is practising in Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. 

If you are following the Punjab Kings Instagram page you can see the insta stories related to these pictures. 

In one of the Insta stories, you can see that Mayank Agrawal is tracing the flower from the hotel walls to submit a picture as a part of the team activity and calls it education.

*All the Above images are from the www.punjabkingsipl.in

In the video Punjab Kings coach, Anil Kumble said that the team missed narrowly qualifying for the top four with a few bad decisions last year. This year we will keep everything aside and focus on playing the matches well and looking forward to playing this IPL.