Presidents and Secretaries of affiliated units have been invited to the season opener between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, according to BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah has invited the Presidents and Secretaries of all the board’s affiliated units to watch the opening match of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Chennai, which will be played between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Jay Shah expresses his joy that the league is returning to India after the previous edition was held in the United Arab Emirates in a letter obtained by ANI. He also requests the presence of the Presidents and Secretaries as they unite and explore ways to improve Indian cricket.
“It’s that time of year again, when the world’s biggest T20 tournament takes over our everyday lives and cricket fever sweeps the country. The Indian Premier League is upon us, and I am overjoyed that it will return to its rightful home in 2021. Circumstances forced us to move the tournament to the United Arab Emirates in 2020, but thanks to your continued encouragement and support, we were able to turn the tide in our favour.
“You were unanimous in your belief that a tournament of the magnitude of the IPL must take place in India, and that we must do everything possible to make that happen. The pandemic hasn’t slowed down, but we’ve adapted, innovated, and found new ways to stay ahead of it. As we get ready for the return of cricket’s most famous tournament, I’d like to invite you to the glittering opening game between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 9th in Chennai “he penned
The BCCI Secretary also discussed the country’s limited but fruitful domestic and foreign calendar, which was held in the wake of the pandemic. “We based all of our energies on getting the IPL to India. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was the first tournament we hosted, followed by the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Women’s Senior One Day Trophy. We were all unfamiliar with the idea of bio-secure bubbles, but I must applaud how each of you contributed to making this a success. We did not report any violations at any stage, and you all deserve full credit. It was crucial to kick off our domestic season and provide an opportunity for our talented domestic cricketers to return to the field.
“The success of bio bubbles in various Indian venues has given us confidence that we have what it takes to run the IPL, and this will also give us confidence for the T20 World Cup later this year. We hosted England for a two-month multi-format tour, and Team India’s success made us all proud. We were treated to some high-quality action between two of the world’s best teams. The three venues, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Pune, made our cricketers and support staff feel at ease “He made a statement.