IPL 2020 could introduce 'commentary from home' feature this year due to COVID-19 pandemic

The world witnessed ‘virtual commentary’ for the first time during a 36-over exhibition game (3TC Solidarity Cup) between three teams at Centurion Park on Sunday, featuring many South African stalwarts. AB de Villiers’ Eagles bagged the gold medal, while Temba Bavuma’s Kites won silver in the unique newly-introduced 3TC format of the game.

In the exhibition match, Irfan Pathan was doing commentary from his Baroda home, Deep Dasgupta from Kolkata and Sanjay Manjrekar from his Mumbai residence. Due to travel restrictions amid COVID-19 pandemic, broadcaster Star Sports decided to go with the concept of ‘virtual commentary’. It was not just the commentary panel as the crew also logged in from all parts of the country with the director sitting in Mysore.

With the experiment turning out to be fairly successful, the broadcaster might try to induce it in the IPL 2020 too. The much-awaited league, after being postponed in March, is likely to hit the floors in September in UAE. Amid the pandemic, ‘virtual commentary’ could become a regular feature in this year’s IPL. If not for the main feeds in English and Hindi, the broadcaster will try it at least for regional feeds like Tamil, Telegu and Kannada.

Commentary from home in IPL will be a massive challenge: Irfan Pathan

“It was an extraordinary experience though we were worried throughout because the internet speed can fluctuate and that affects the voice quality. Anything can happen anytime in live cricket and with technology not fully in your control, it can be tricky but Star did a wonderful job,” Pathan said over the prospect of virtual commentary in IPL 2020 during the pandemic.

“Though this was an exhibition game, everyone took it very seriously as they all wanted the show to resume (after months of break). Star is usually very thorough with its planning and execution but commentary from home in the IPL will be a massive challenge,” added Irfan as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The broadcaster, during the course of the IPL every year, produces as many as 10 feeds with Hindi one accounting for two-thirds of the overall viewership. With the sport undergoing many changes in the post-coronavirus world, the commentary from ‘anywhere in the world’ could become a regular feature soon.