IPL 2021: All matches in Mumbai to go as per schedule despite lockdown in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Government on Tuesday announced a statewide curfew, which will be starting on April 14 and go on till May 1. This is to reduce the increasing spread of coronavirus in the state. However, the curfew will not have an effect on the Indian Premier League matches at the Wankhede Stadium.     

The 14th edition of the cash-rich league started on April 9. Mumbai is one of the six cities that has been slated to host the IPL 2021. Mumbai and Chennai are currently two bases where the IPL matches are going on. According to well-placed sources, the IPL organizing committee has confirmed that the matches at the Wankhede Stadium will be held as they have been scheduled.  

The next match at the Wankhede is between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals on Thursday. After that, on Friday, Punjab Kings will face the Chennai Super Kings. On Tuesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made an announcement that statewide curfew, which will be starting at 8 PM on April 14 till 7 AM on May 1. 

The remaining eight matches in Wankhede amidst lockdown from April 14  

“No effect on Mumbai matches as we have special permission, everything will go ahead as planned and we will take all necessary precautions” an official said. The Wankhede Stadium has been slated to host 10 IPL league matches in this season. So far (until April 13), only two matches have been completed and there are eight matches still to be played in the Mumbai leg, where Punjab, Rajasthan, Chennai, and Delhi will be battling it out.

All the measures have been taken after a sudden uprise in the cases of COVID-19 in the state of Maharastra. The Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said while addressing the state of Maharashtra “We are imposing strict restrictions which will come into effect from 8 pm tomorrow. Section 144 to be imposed in the entire state from tomorrow. I will not term this as lockdown.”

He also informed that “Local train and bus services for essential services only, petrol pumps, financial institutions associated with SEBI and construction work to continue, hotel/restaurants to remain closed only take away and home deliveries allowed,” he added.