IPL 2020 is going to be an exercise in logistics that people will read about for years to come. The Caribbean Premier League is holding the first major T20 tournament under the pandemic but it is doing so in its own backyard.
The IPL, on the other hand, is going to take eight franchises and all the supporting staff that comes along with that, to the UAE.
Are there going to be setbacks? For sure. The title sponsor Vivo has already backed out and there does not seem to be a ready replacement at the moment. However, we are sure that IPL 2020 is going to be the biggest IPL yet!
India is Cricket-Starved
One of the most common complaints that we hear, in normal times, is that India plays too much cricket. The IPL is almost seen as a distraction from the national teams goals. IPL betting may be more popular than ever but there were still some diehards that did not really take to the tournament too kindly.
This time, though, there has been no cricket for months. The T20 World Cup has been canceled, the Asia Cup has been canceled, and it appears as if India is going to play in Australia as its next international engagement.
Every single cricket fan in India has been craving for cricket for quite some time now. The IPL is not going to be seen as an overdose. It is, in fact, going to be a welcome relief to see the Indian stars on television again.
Television ratings and streaming counts are going to be higher than they have ever been.
Every Major Indian Player is Available
We have seen over the last few seasons that the Indian national team regulars are often a bit tired or jaded when they come to the IPL. They have been on the treadmill of international cricket and playing at the IPL almost seems like a chore for them.
This time, though, every single player is well-rested, injury-free, and raring to get back in action.
In fact, the IPL is the only major tournament that is going to be held in the foreseeable future which makes it very important for players like Shuubhma Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Chahar, and more who are on the fringes of selection.
International Players Are Ready
A big part of the draw of the IPL is that the best T20 players in the world assemble at that time to play in the tournament. There is no other international series being played at the time that the IPL is scheduled to be held and so every international player is going to be available for their franchises.
Players like Kane Williamson, AB de Villiers, David Warner, Pat Cummins, and Kieron Pollard have already talked about their excitement for the upcoming IPL. For once, the IPL is going to be where international players from all over the world make a case to be picked for their sides.
The international schedule is expected to come back to normal from November-December but no one can say for sure. This is why we say that enjoy top-flight cricket when you can.
The IPL will have a few players test positive, there were will be no fans at the ground, and there will be controversies that we cannot foresee yet. However, cricket fans around the world need not worry.
Nothing can stop IPL 2020 from being the biggest IPL yet!