The second wave of the Covid-19 virus is turning scary, as the number of cases are touching a new high every day. The city of dreams Mumbai has been the epicentre of the second wave of Covid-19 as ten ground staff and six BCCI event managers of the iconic Wankhede Stadium have so far tested positive for Covid-19.
Twenty people, including three players, associated with the upcoming IPL 14 season have tested positive for Covid-19, just four days before the season commences. RCB's Devdutt Padikkal, DC all-rounder Akshar Patel, and KKR's Nitish Rana (now negative) are the three players to test positive for Covid-19. Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) opener Devdutt Padikkal is the latest to get caught in the clutches; while, Nitish was found infected on 22nd March.
Will the tournament get postponed or shifted to an international venue?
In Maharashtra, there will be a lockdown starting on Friday(April 9) 8 pm to Monday(12 April) 7 am. During this time necessary services and transport including buses, trains, taxis will be allowed. Mumbai has seen a rapid increase in cases of Covid-19. However, the Cricket Board of India (BCCI) has said "Matches will not stop in Mumbai even if a curfew is imposed but everyone including the bus and the driver will live in the bio-bubble. In such a situation, there will be no problem in going from the hotel to the stadium on the day of the match. Regular corona test will be done for all. It will be the same as it was during the tournament held in the UAE last year. Even after the curfew is imposed, there will be no problem in going from the hotel to the stadium. If the coronavirus situation goes out of control, then Indore and Hyderabad have been kept as 'stand by' places for the Mumbai matches".