IPL 2020: Rajasthan Royals to play two games in Guwahati

Rajasthan Royals (RR) is all set to play a couple of matches at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The decision  was zeroed in on during a meeting between Royals, IMG-Reliance (IMG-R), the parent body of the T20 league, and Assam Cricket Association (ACA). The tournament is scheduled to get underway on March 29.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings would be locking horns in the opening game of the IPL 2020 at the Wankhede Stadium. Previously, the Royals requested for a change of home from Ahmedabad to Guwahati. In the meantime, three petitioners, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the Jaipur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court.

Assam to witness the Royals’ Riyan Parag

The petitioners claimed that shifting of matches outside Jaipur “would be disrespectful to the state.” Guwahati hosting the games mean that the state would have the privilege of watching the talented Riyan Parag, who grabbed the limelight last season for his fearless approach.

Parag was also a part of the victorious Team India, who won the U19 World Cup in 2018 under Prithvi Shaw’s leadership. The development of Guwahati playing host was put forth by Assam Finance Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma on his official Twitter handle.

He took to Twitter and wrote, “It is a moment of joy for us as @rajasthanroyals will play 2 matches in #IPL’s next season in #Guwahati. I appreciate Sri @JayShah for this great initiative for the people of #NorthEastIndia. May the spirit of sports keep us united forever,”

Here is Assam’s Finance Minister’s tweet

It is a moment of joy for us as @rajasthanroyals will play 2 matches in #IPL's next season in #Guwahati.

I appreciate Sri @JayShah for this great initiative for the people of #NorthEastIndia.

May the spirit of sports keep us united forever. @IPL@BCCI

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 14, 2020

For the time being, the schedule for the upcoming edition is yet to be announced. There have been plenty of updates regarding the format, but nothing concrete as of yet. There is also a chance of the start of the IPL getting delayed as the ICC has turned down BCCI’s request to shift its board meeting.

The meeting will take place on March 29 in Dubai, the exact start date of the IPL. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had informed the start date of the cash-rich T20 league. A number of BCCI’s top officials will be attending the meeting next month.