Tag: ipl20

Dream11 IPL 2020, the bubble game.

Greater the set-back, stronger the come-back.

Along with chasing the target runs, another challenge to the players for the upcoming season of IPL is to fight the ongoing pandemic. Keeping the guidelines in mind, the spectators are not allowed to visit the stadium. Commencing from 19th Sept’20 in UAE, all the cricketers will definitely miss the energy in the stands.

Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar feels, “It will be odd initially to play in empty stadiums as in India the crowd can act as a 12th man for the home team.”

Empty stands
Picture courtesy : Twitter/@iplt20

As a surprise, the franchise officials have decided to flash a pre-recorded video of the audience cheering in the stadium. This will be done so after every boundary is scored and a wicket is lost.

“The stadiums will be empty as everyone is looking to ensure that health protocols and bio-bubble regulations are strictly followed. So, it was decided that while some teams will record the reactions of cheerleaders, which will be played out for every four, six or wicket, other teams have decided to create small videos of fans cheering for them and those will be played out while the cricketers are battling it out in the middle,” the official said to a reporter from ANI.

Nevertheless, the excitement shall keep rising indoors too. Listening to the IPL 2020 Rap/Theme song “Aayenge hum wapas” (We will return) makes an attempt to pump up the energy in all houses which will soon turn into stadiums. The song was sung by rapper KR$NA (real name Krishna Kaul) and composed by Pranav Ajayrao Malpe. It will be inspiring to watch how the players as well as the audience cope up with the new normal.

While the sportsmen have been training rigorously ahead of the 13th edition, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council is working to keep things safe for the teams.

Venue manager Navdeep Arneja stated, “We have created two ovals for both the teams to practice simultaneously. No one from outside will be allowed to go inside and we will ensure that we are in a bubble environment.”

Sanitizing the ground for safety of the players and ground staff is the primary concern
Picture courtesy : Twitter/@AbuDhabiCricket

Due to rapid spread of coronavirus, it is made mandatory for all players and staff to undergo a six-day quarantine after reaching UAE. This ensures safety of other players. As per UAE government, players from all countries also need to furnish a COVID-19 negative certificates.

However, cricketers from England and Austraila are exempted from quarantining because they’re already in a bio-bubble from 4th September. They shall reach UAE via a charter plane on 17th September making them available for the opening matches of their respective teams.

“It is very clear from BCCI SOP that each and every player has to go through quarantine (in UAE). However, the players from England and Australia would already be in a bio-bubble as they would be playing the series there. If they continue to remain in that bio-bubble and we can send a charter plane then they are as secure as other players” explained Sanjeev Churiwala, Chairman of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Virat kohli addressing his team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on a virtual meet.
Picture courtesy : Twitter/@Royal Challengers Bangalore

Playing in front of the home crowd has always been special for it is a moment of pride and enthusiasm. Sadly, this year the matches in the league stage will not be played in the round-robin format because the hosts, I.e. UAE has made only three stadiums functional.

For the league stage, 24 matches will played at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai, 20 matches in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium at Abu Dhabi, and the remaining 12 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium located in Sharjah.

The opening match of this IPL season will take place in Abu Dhabi where the defending champions Mumbai Indians will face the runners-up of IPL 2019 Chennai Super Kings.

The action will then shift to Dubai on 20th September where Delhi Capitals will play against Kings Xl Punjab followed by the third match on 21st Sept between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the same venue.

Sharjah will host its first Dream11 IPL 2020 match on 22nd September when Rajasthan Royals will play against Chennai Super Kings.

There will be 10 double-headers, with the first match at 3:30pm (IST) and the second match starting at 7:30 pm (IST) in all cases. The finals are expected to be on 10th November. The venue for the same will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Here is the complete fixture for Dreams11 IPL 2020:

Dream11 IPL 2020 Schedule Part 1
Picture courtesy : IPLT20 official website

Dream11 IPL 2020 Schedule Part 1
Picture courtesy : IPLT20 official website

The Women’s IPL is set to take place between 1st November and 10th November. Due to overlapping with the Big Bash League, the squads, schedule and venue is yet to be announced for WIPL 2020.

Right from the virtual welcome meets, to social distancing norms to being secured in a bio-bubble environment, all the IPL teams are set to begin the chase. Are you too?

Indian Premier League 2020, but in UAE? 😳


Dream11 IPL 2020 is back in action, but at what cost?

The Dream11 Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 13th edition is witnessing the most enthusiasm and excitement amongst the players and viewers from all over the world. The change in location from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is quite upsetting for the Indian audience. Nevertheless, the passion for cricket has always been never-dying!

Picture courtesy : Dream11 on Instagram

Dream11 Title Sponsor of IPL 2020.

Picture courtesy : Dream11 on    Instagram


There are a total of eight teams playing for the 13th edition of IPL. The franchisees with their respective captains are:

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) playing under India’s former captain, captain cool M.S. Dhoni.
2. Delhi Capitals (DC) under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, the youngest captain this season.
3. Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) under debut captain KL Rahul.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) shining under Dinesh Kartik
5. Mumbai Indians (MI) led by India’s stand-in captain, Rohit Sharma.
6. Rajasthan Royals (RR) under the captaincy of Australia’s greatest, Steve Smith
7. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) head by India’s current skipper, Virat Kohli
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) under another Australia’s greatest player, David Warner.


All Skipper’s Of Dream11 IPL 2020
Picture courtesy : sportsmonks.com/


Mumbai Indians, the defending champions who claimed the Vivo IPL 2019 title lift the trophy 4th time in the last season. They will face the runners-up Chennai Super Kings for the inaugural match on 19th September which is to be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Dhoni’s yellow army has won the title three times and have come 2nd for five times since the inception of IPL in 2008.


As per statistics report of the Times of India, CSK has the highest winning percentage of 60.61. Just after them is Mumbai Indians, with 57.22% winning ratio. Delhi Captials stands the lowest chance with the winning ratio of 42.7%.


With too many changes in the squad, KXIP is unlikely to perform well in the tournament. However, when IPL took place in UAE in 2014, although partially (due to General Elections in India), Kings XI were runners-up. We never know if they might get lucky this season but Brad Hogg isn’t on the same page.

“They are too much up and down. That’s why Kings XI are going to finish last,” Hogg feels.


KXIP who are yet to get their hands on the coveted trophy, got off to a great start in the past two seasons under the captaincy of Ravichandran Ashwin. With KL Rahul leading the side this season, it’s yet another change which may or may not work in their favour.


Speaking of champions and runner ups, the current Indian skipper’s team RCB has been always been at the loosing end too. They usually finish in 2nd half I’d the points table. They’ve never lifted the trophy but have been runners-up twice.


Needless to say, the ongoing pandemic has played a huge role. The upcoming season will prove to be a challenge for everyone right from players to ground staff and from journalists to viewers as well.


Here are some drastic changes that we shall witness:

1. Empty stands

It’ll be a totally different experience for players with no spectators in the stands. The constant hooting, cheering, display of placards & banners by the sightseers add to the fabulous ambience of the stadium. It will be disheartening not just for the players but the audience as well. Truly the new normal, the one we don’t approve of!

Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE to host 12 league matches of Dream11 IPL 2020
Picture courtesy : Twitter/@sharjahstadium

Economically too, this idea doesn’t sound good! No spectators means no revenue generated by ticket sales. This may burn a huge hole in the sponsors’ pockets.

2. Concussion substitutes

For the first time in the history of IPL, we shall see concussion substitutes meaning; replacement of an injured or ill player from the team.

Another sad news for the audience is that since the nation-wide lockdown in India, there has been no update on the All-Stars Match. In order to raise money for charity, BCCI had earlier announced to organize an All-Stars Match before the commencement of IPL’s 13th edition.

We haven’t decided the names of the teams for the All-Stars game but there will be a team of overseas players from the IPL. It will be an annual affair – BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said after the IPL Governing Council’s meeting on 27th January’20.


The competition was to be held between a team from South and West i.e. comprising players from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) versus another team from North and East which will include players from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Delhi Capitals (DC).


Keeping all worries at bay, the first match in the men’s league stage is between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings.


From left – Rohit Sharma, Captain of Mumbai Indians with M.S.Dhoni, Captain of Chennai Super Kings
Picture courtesy : Instagram/@TimesOfIndia


We are sure to see some action for the Women’s IPL too starting on 1st November. The players are gearing up. The audience, too, is eagerly waiting for this league to commence on such a high note. With just 10 days to go, our enthusiasm is sky high!


Let us know how excited you are in the comments below 😬