How Covid-19 turned the IPL 2020 Upside Down

Everything’s changing except the spirit of the game

With the outburst of the novel coronavirus, IPL 2020 has turned out not only to be the most awaited one but also the most unique season ever. Amid all the controversies of the IPL being held or not, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced some changes in the game keeping the safety of the players a major priority.  

The most bizarre change in the history of the IPL is the season taking place in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), and not in India.

Though the interim changes are applicable for this season, we all someway wished to be a part of the stands and cheer for our players on the ground.

Earlier, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) was willing to fill up 30-50% seats of the stadiums with spectators, and was waiting for the BCCI’s nod and approval from the UAE Government. Considering the current situations worsening by every passing day, the latter did not agree with the presence of the audience in the stadiums. Conclusively, this year we will be watching the IPL like this:

This year, as mentioned in the last blog by my colleague, the concept of a bio-bubble has been introduced in the IPL. Let’s see how it works.

Another change that the players need to adopt to is that of being in a ‘bio-bubble’. In layman’s language, a bio-bubble means an area or an environment which is completely secluded or sealed off from the rest of the entire world. The players will travel in bubbles as an isolated unit. They are tested for COVID-19 before entering the bubble. Only when the players and the support staff members test negative, they are sent into the bubble, where they are further quarantined and are supposed to stay inside the bubble. This concept helps in minimizing the risk of physical interaction of the players from the outside world, in turn, minimizing the risk of spreading the coronavirus among the members in the bubble.

Moreover, we shall now see how the pandemic has changed the major rules of the game for this season of IPL:

• No use of Saliva – A total ban on use of saliva to shine the ball has been issued by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Considering the new adjustments on the field with which the players will be completely unfamiliar, the ICC has decided to be a little lenient on the violations. The player will be given two warnings per innings if found violating the above stated rule, whereas the third violation will result in a penalty of 5 runs. In such cases, the umpires need to sanitize the ball before the game resumes.
• Local Umpires – Considering the ongoing pandemic and the restrains on logistical challenges and international transit, local umpires from the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Officials and the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Officials will be encouraged to take over.
• Extra DRS Review – An extra unsuccessful DRS (Decision Review System) for each team, in each innings of a match, will be provided considering the less experienced local umpires at times. In this way, the number of unsuccessful appeals per innings for each team will rise up. The Match Referees will be supported when processing Code of Conduct breaches, and a neutral Elite Panel match referee will conduct any hearing remotely via virtual meetings.
• Covid-19 Replacements – Player(s) showing covid-19 symptoms or worse can be replaced; they can have replacements as concussion substitutes. This decision has been taken keeping in mind the unpredictability of the symptoms and the spread of the coronavirus.

On addition to the interim rules, there are many protocols that need to be followed to minimize the spread of coronavirus, the major one being the testing of the players and the staff members every fifth day of the tournament, for safety measures. If any player/staff member is found breaking the rules of staying in the bio bubble, he/she will have to self-isolate himself/herself for five days and shall return by resulting negative in the two Covid-19 tests.

“There could be minor changes to this protocol depending on the feedback from the teams but there will not be any compromise on players and team officials’ safety” –  BCCI Official

The empty stands of the stadiums are to be used as extended dressing rooms of the players. Even team meetings can take place there while making sure that social distancing is conveniently followed by the players.

This year, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is playing an equivalent important role as the BCCI’s. The ECB is making sure not to give any opportunity of grievance to the BCCI or the ICC and is being very strict with the rules and the safety measures of the game.

The players have completed their 14-days quarantine in the UAE and have started practicing on the grounds.

Since the fourteen days quarantine for both the teams are over, both the teams are coming to the facility at the same time, so we’ve extended the facility where we have two ovals for both the teams so that they can practice at the same time. – Navdeep Arneja, Venue Manager, Abu Dhabi Sports Council

One rule that I personally feel should have been made noticeable enough is to entirely ban handshaking. It has been a formal way of meeting and greeting the opposite teams by handshaking every player. This rule should be omitted for the safety of the players and an alternative should be brought in; glimpses of the teams of their past IPL matches can be displayed, legendary moments of the IPL can be shown, etc. In this way, the memories will be cherished by both the players and the fans watching on their televisions/streaming partners. The fun and mesmerizing view of the jam-packed stadiums will be a sight that everybody’s going to miss this time.

Even though the pandemic drastically changed the rules of an entire sport, it still couldn’t succeed in stopping the tournament from taking place. This shows how high the spirit of cricket is, in India and around the world. We all wished to be a part of the game by being present in the stadiums. I know there’s a lot that you all will be missing this time. Do tell us in the comments what will you be missing and cherishing the most this season.