Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni has not been seen in action after India’s defeat against New Zealand at the World Cup semi-final in July last year. Dhoni fans expected to see him in the Indian Premier League (IPL) – initially scheduled for March – but that too was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
However, Dhoni’s followers on Twitter have gone berserk since IPL chairman Brijesh Patel has confirmed that the tournament will take place in the UAE from September 19 to November 8.
With the announcement of the IPL dates, Dhoni admirers can expect that their hero will again don the yellow jersey of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and lead the franchise in the tournament.
India’s badminton star Kidambi Srikanth is no different, and he took to Twitter to express his happiness, saying that he is “excited and looking forward to see @msdhoni play again”.
Great to know #IPL2020 is happening.
I’m excited and looking forward to see @msdhoni play again! 💪🏻— Kidambi Srikanth (@srikidambi) July 24, 2020
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has prepared a 51-day plan for the IPL 2020. However, there are various issues which will be discussed in the governing council meeting next week.
“The GC will meet shortly but we have finalised the schedule. It will run from September 19 to November 8. We expect the government approval to come through. It is a full 51-day IPL,” Patel told PTI on
“We are making the SOP and it will be ready in a few days. To allow crowd or not depends on the UAE government. Anyway, social distancing has to be maintained. We have left it for their government to decide on that. Will also be writing to the UAE board formally,” Patel said.
There was a massive cloud over IPL 2020 with the coronavirus pandemic decimating the cricketing calendar. Hopes rested on ICC’s decision regarding the T20 World Cup in Australia this year.
The path was cleared for the IPL to be hosted in the UAE when the ICC decided to shift this year’s T20 World Cup to October-November 2021.
