There seems no plan to shift IPL 2021 matches scheduled for Delhi, despite the city is grappled with the current coronavirus wave. The city has recorded more than 300 deaths and new cases and currently faces an acute shortage of hospital beds and oxygen supplies.
Four IPL teams - Mumbai Indians, the Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals are scheduled to play eight matches in Delhi. It is scheduled from April 28 to May 8.
As it is understood that Mumbai Indians was the first team to land in Delhi and then followed by the other three teams, who are scheduled to reach Delhi by April 26.
The Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA), which in charge of the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, is putting its faith in the bio-secure bubble created for the IPL. "It is on schedule," DDCA president Rohan Jaitley told ESPNcricinfo on Friday. "The bubble is absolutely intact. If I am not part of the bubble, I can't meet anybody [inside it]. It is absolutely safe."
"There is a health and safety protocol that is already in place where teams move around in bubbles, they stay in bubbles, practice happens in a bubble, and any and every person who comes in contact is part of the bubble. There is no one who is outside the bubble," Jaitley confirmed that all the relevant personnel, including grounds persons, are part of the bubble.
Moreover, it has been notified that IPL governing council board has not yet have discussed with franchises or internally about considering shifting the Delhi leg. As per the official data released by the Indian Government, Delhi has more than 91,000 active cases of Covid-19, including thousands of deaths. Delhi is highly suffering from acute oxygen supplies and hospital beds.
Nevertheless, BCCI is well aware of the ground situation in Delhi and all other cities suffering from coronavirus. However, the franchises remained wary. Medical experts have to wear double-mask at all times and travel wearing full PPE kits.
Though, the players have not expressed or issued any statement regarding the covid concern in the public domain. Though England allrounder Chris Woakes, who represents the Delhi Capitals, has said that it wasn't an ideal situation. "It's a shame with the situation at the moment with the people all around the world having to deal with Covid, which isn't ideal," Woakes told AFP.
"Within the bubble, we are trying to stay positive. We are very lucky that we still get a chance to play cricket and entertain people on the outside," he further added.