Reports: Narendra Modi Stadium in line to host the IPL 2021 playoffs

This is that time of the year when all Indian cricket fans are waiting for the IPL to start. However, with an upsurge of COVID cases in some types of the country, there are certain concerns regarding the scheduling and then organising the 2021 IPL. India and England’s series is currently going with 50% crowd and as of now, everything has been great as far as organising is taken into account. 

The IPL is scheduled to start on April 10, 2021, and it has been reported that this season won’t see teams travelling to each other’s venues to play home and away matches. Instead, there are speculations that there could be a venue named which will host a particular set of matches before moving onto the next venue. 

This way BCCI and IPL governing council can make sure that a biosecure bubble can be made for the players to stay in it. On Friday, it was reported by India Today that five venues have been shortlisted by the BCCI for hosting the IPL. The venues were Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai, waiting for approval from the Maharashtra Government. 

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will still host one Test and five T20Is

However, it seems that the newly inaugurated Narendra Modi cricket stadium is in the run to host the playoffs of the IPL 2021. The stadium, which is now the largest cricket stadium in the world, recently hosted the day-night Test match between India and England. Several players talked about how the facilities were good. 

The stadium can hold up to 1,32,000 people in the stands and has four massive dressing rooms, which is capable of having all the qualified teams in a biosecure bubble. This will also allow the BCCI to have a maximum crowd for the playoff matches, even if there is a 50% limit to the people sitting in the stands. 

The stadium’s pitch was also criticised from some corners because the match ended in two days. But, with another Test and then five T20Is between the two teams to be played on the same wickets, there is hope that the talks will be gone. The IPL had to be shifted last year to the United Arab Emirates but this year there has been a full-fledged attempt to organise this tournament at home.