Will the COVID-19 affected IPL 2020 be able to live up to its hype?

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) scheduled to begin on 19th September, the excitement level is at its peak. Fans are eagerly waiting for their favourite tournament to begin. After the COVID-19 pandemic caused a six months delay in the cash-rich league, it has led to a greater than ever hype for the IPL.

The first match is one that is famously known as the ‘El Clasico’ of cricket. A match between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings, two sides having the most IPL trophies and a history of their own. With so much excitement there is one main question that comes to mind. Will the COVID-19 affected IPL be able to live up to its hype?

The most competitive cricket league is known for its high scoring games and the nail-biting finishes. While the close finishes may still take place, the high scoring matches don’t seem very probable. The fact that only three grounds are going to be used across the entire tournament could lead to the pitches drying up and disintegrating. Low scoring encounters could well be on the cards. While viewers are delighted to have Indian cricket back, low scoring encounters may not please them.

The recently-concluded Caribbean Premier League showed how the lack of match practice and the slow pitches could hinder the performance of the teams. The highest score in the league was 185 runs while the average score was around 132. Though the IPL definitely has bigger and better players it would be interesting to see if this problem arises there too. The match fitness could be a greater concern considering the extreme heat in the UAE.

Will empty stadiums give us the same atmosphere?

There is no doubt about how the unavailability of spectators will affect the league. Along with top-notch cricket, the tournament is also known for its on-field antics, fan interactions, and players celebrations. The Mexican waves, flashlights, and the crowd cheering had become a norm in most games. While it’s been reported that there are plans to place speakers with pre-recorded voices to cheer up the players, it is obvious that it cannot replace human interactions.

Another thing that would light up the IPL was the great player celebrations. Imran Tahir covering the entire ground running, Dwayne Bravo doing the champion dance, and Chris Gayle’s Gangnam style celebration would just bring in crazy energy and excitement. With no crowd around, it remains to be seen if the players still opt to go for their famous celebrations.

The players too have admitted that this would definitely be a big change for them. Playing in a new environment with no one watching you will definitely be something they will have to adjust to. It’s no hidden fact that how the spectators could boost the morale of teams and motivate them to give their hundred per cent.

The crowd catches would be missed not only by the audience but also by the players. It has now become the job of the players to go and fetch the ball as the stands remain empty. This could also lead to games going on for longer and the viewers losing interest.

A major concern could also be the fact that what happens if a player gets tested positive for the virus. Not only that player or that team but the entire tournament could come under threat. This is the last thing people would want considering how long everyone has waited for this to arrive. Therefore it becomes very essential for all the players as well as everyone involved in the happening of the league to strictly follow all the guidelines given.

Even though there may seem many concerns, the arrival of the greatest and biggest T20 league has definitely spread joy all around. The entire world is eagerly waiting to watch their favourite players lock horns against each other. One thing that sets the IPL apart, is the intensity and the competitiveness of the games and we hope that the same remains this year as well. The hype is definitely not uncalled for as we are going to witness Indian cricket after a long wait of six months.