IPL 2021: Suresh Raina shares breath-taking view from hotel balcony from his quarantine in UAE

Indian Premier League franchises Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have touched down in the UAE, where the second half of the 14th edition is set to be played from September 19. 

The 2021 edition was suspended midway through after a spate of Covid-19 cases emerged inside the bio-secure environment created for the franchises that led the BCCI and IPL governing council to abruptly postpone the league on May 4. After plenty of consideration, it is now all set to resume with a blockbuster clash between the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

Upon reaching the gulf country, CSK’s mainstay Suresh Raina took to Instagram to share a breath-taking view from his hotel balcony. Both CSK and MI players will have to serve a mandatory six-day quarantine before they can start training and practicing for the upcoming tournament.

IPL 2021 to resume on September 19 with CSK-MI clash

“The discussions went really well and with ECB already giving us the oral nod to host the event ahead of the BCCI SGM, it was about closing the deal over the last week. The first game after the season resumes will be held on September 19 while we will have the final on October 15. The BCCI was always keen on a 25-day window to finish the remaining matches,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying earlier in June.

Notably, there were doubts around the availability of England players owing to their Bangladesh tour during the same period. However, with that being pushed back to 2023, the players will be available for the tournament.

“With respect to the IPL, we are going to have discussions with all our players and with the postponement of the Bangladesh tour that provides an opportunity for players to present themselves for the IPL. Players are going to have to manage their schedules because we have a busy winter and that comes on the end of a busy summer. Those discussions are underway, but obviously, on a case-by-case basis, those decisions will be made with the players,” said Harrison during an interaction with select media on Thursday.