IPL
IPL 2020 About To Call Off Because of Novak Djokovic, Here’s Why?
|| India Correspondent ||
The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been played successfully in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently. The Board of Control from Cricket in India (BCCI) has successfully hosted the tournament amid the crunch time of the global pandemic novel COVID-19. It was also noteworthy that, the league was supposed to be played in March but couldn’t take place due to the global pandemic.
However, there were a few certain moments when the league was on the verge of cancellation. One such moment was when Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic tested positive for the global pandemic novel coronavirus after playing a few exhibition games in Croatia and Serbia as well.
Recently, BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal has shared a conversation with the board Secretary Jay Shah, whose confidence over the league being played ensured that it wasn't called off.
"After that report (about Djokovic testing positive) came in, we were in two minds. Many people told us to not go ahead with it (IPL)," Dhumal told The Indian Express.
"What if something happens to a player? The IPL would go on for almost three months. However, Jay said we should go ahead, he was more confident than all of us."
Dhumal further thanked the Indian Premier League for the financial benefits as it came only because of the IPL.
"The Board managed to cut nearly 35 per cent of the cost as compared to the last IPL. We earned Rs 4,000 crore during the pandemic time. Our TV viewership went about 25 per cent higher, we got the highest-ever opening game (Mumbai Indians versus Chennai Super Kings) viewership. Those who doubted us came and thanked us for hosting the IPL. Had this IPL not happened, cricketers would have lost one year," he concluded.
Notably, Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians has won the IPL title this year and this was their record-fifth title win in the history of the league as well.