IS COVID-19 A BLESSING FOR THE IPL 2020?

There were only suggestions that with the IPL moving abroad, spectator interest was already on the wane, especially for seasonal fans whose only interest...

- SREELATA S. YELLAMRAZU

Much has already been documented about how the lockdowns enforced as a result of the coronavirus pan-demic has affected the hosting of the Indian Premier League in its original season. However, now that the IPL 2020 has gotten off to reasonable success, there is now the turnaround question of whether the coronavirus pandemic has come to the aid of the IPL.

While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL organizers have been gung-ho about the prospect of a ‘record’ television audience for the IPL season 13, there were worries that fan concerns have shifted from the staging of the IPL to the unusual scenario as laid out by the pandemic. In that light, sport seemed of secondary concern.