IPL 2021: Here are the five things fans missed this season

With yet another splendid season, the Indian Premier League has unfolded some belligerent knocks and breath-taking spells. Well, that’s pretty much the story of every edition of the IPL wherein the on-lookers get to witness power-packed performances. Though the action had paused initially after COVID-19 cases had hit certain camps, the league made it up by producing an exciting second half of the tournament.

Whether they were the last ball thrillers or the dominating chases, one got to witness probably every intriguing aspect of the game in the UAE leg. The race to the play-offs and the contest to stay at the top two positions both fascinated the fans. However, as IPL is renowned as one of the most celebrated leagues, it is a no-brainer that every year the tournament is up with some surprise.

The league unfolds some new things to cherish with its every season. Whereas on the other hand, sometimes there are a few things that the on-lookers miss out on witnessing. In this article, let’s have a look at certain things that fans missed in this year’s edition of the IPL.

Here are the five things we missed in IPL 2021

1. SRH’s consistency

Over the years, fans have witnessed Sunrisers Hyderabad dominating the proceedings in the IPL. Their core group has more often than not pose threats to the oppositions. Whether it is the ever-impressive form of David Warner or the clinical display by their bowling unit, the team has always presented itself as one of the toughest contenders of the tournament.

However, things did not turn out quite the same this time around. SRH had a dismal IPL 2021 and this probably goes down as their most disappointing season. David Warner was removed from captaincy mid-way in the tournament with Kane Williamson taking on the responsibility of leading the side. The Australian batter was even dropped from the playing XI of the side.

In the Indian leg of the IPL, the team struggled to make an impact and the scripts did not change in the UAE leg as well. Their bowling group that was considered as one of the most lethal ones in the league was unable to put up spirited shows on the display. Until the last edition, it was always considered that SRH is a team that has a bunch of bowlers that can defend the lowest of totals.  SRH won only three games in this edition of the IPL. With the team’s performances this year, the fans of the orange army definitely missed the team’s domination.

2. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers batting together

Cricket in varied ways is a purpose to many. It is not just about the games, but also the beautiful moments that the sport unveils. Ever since its inception, IPL has been a platform wherein one has witnessed cultural diversity. For the fans, watching their favorite cricketers from all over the world play together in one team is a thing to savor. Also, one thing that garners the audacity of the league is the support the franchises get from their fans.

The special bond between Virat and AB de Villiers is something that the cricketing fraternity has witnessed over the years. The RCB fans are all raring to watch both of them together on the 22 yards every year. The two of the most followed cricketers in the world bring a certain aura and ease to their game that further intrigues the spectators.

Whether it is AB and Virat putting a strong total on the board by taking on the toughest of the bowlers or it is them taking the charge of the chase, the partnerships between the duo are sought after a lot. However, though the team had an impressive stint this season, the two batters did not play together even once this year.  The ardent followers of the game missed watching them together on the field in IPL 2021.

3. Kohli’s dominating match-winning knock for RCB

Think of a player who has been scoring runs for fun in the IPL by displaying his sheer flair and one will not skip the name of Virat Kohli. He has been one of the most pivotal cogs of RCB’s wheel and for the longest of time, he had led the team from front by chipping in big runs. RCB witnessed a huge turnaround this season.

Until last year, the team was heavily dependent on only their key players to take the team to victory. However, this year the team had multiple match-winners that sort of put a lot of pressure off from Kohli and a few others. This year was special in many ways for the RCB fans as earlier Kohli announced that he will lead the time for the final time in this season.

He opened the innings alongside Devdutt Padikkal and got to some steady starts in the tournament. In the game against Mumbai, he became the first Indian cricketer to cross 10,000 T20 runs. But the captain didn’t bring a dominating knock this year that his fans would have wished to watch. The master of run chases did showcase his fiefdom with some beautiful and aggressive shots but a big match-winning inning from Kohli was missed this IPL.

4. Indian Fans

The game of cricket is just incomplete without its fans. They are rightly termed as the heartbeat of the sport. The cheers of the fans and their excitement is what adds more to the game. However owing to the uncertainties of the ongoing pandemic, cricket is being played under strict bio-secure bubbles.

When it comes to the IPL, the fans get divided and leave no stones unturned in supporting their favorite team. The home games of the teams exude the crazy fan-following they have as the stadiums are packed with fans all excited to back their loved teams. However, in the first leg of the IPL, though the games were played in India, the fans were not allowed to enter the stadiums.

A few COVID-19 cases brought the tournament to hold and the action then shifted to the UAE for the remainder of the IPL. In UAE, fans were allowed in the stadiums but most of the fans back home couldn’t witness the live-action up close. Thus, the absence of most of the passionate Indian followers of the team was seen in the stadium yet again this year.

5. Entertaining matches in Sharjah

IPL 2020 was entirely played in the UAE. After having being postponed initially, the tournament was then staged in the Gulf nation. The fact that the fans got to witness the live action amidst the pandemic was sheer happiness for them. However, the high-scoring exciting matches at Sharjah just added more to the overall excitement.

Last year, only four of the 24 innings played here produced a score of less than 150. Whereas as many as four matches produced scores higher than 200 on Sharjah last season. It appeared as a batting-friendly wicket and the bowlers had very little to do.  The batters had a clear edge on this surface last year and that kept the onlookers on the edge of their seats as they were all in awe of the power-hitting strokes.

However, this year the venue did not present itself as a batting paradise. The teams struggled to score big runs, unlike last year. The quick-fire knocks and highly entertaining games at Sharjah were missed this year.