IPL resumes today as precursor to T20 World Cup
Players will be getting valuable experience in the UAE conditions ahead of the T20 World Cup when the Indian Premier League (IPL) resumes, four months after the world's richest T20 league was halted midway by the coronavirus pandemic in India, with the blockbuster Chennai Super Kings-Mumbai Indians clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders, and left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who plays for Rajasthan Royals, are seeing their participation as a preparation for next month's T20 World Cup in Oman and UAE, slated to begin on October 17.
Delhi Capitals, who finished runners-up in 2020, are leading the points tally and are primed to win their maiden title. The other teams in the top four are CSK, RCB and the mighty Mumbai Indians, the winner of a record five titles and the team to upstage.
When the second wave of Covid-19 wreaked havoc in India in April-May, the airtight IPL bio-bubble also ruptured, forcing the tournament to be suspended after 29 games. The full IPL took place in the UAE last year with no problems and the BCCI will look forward to a similar experience this time.
Fans, albeit a limited number, will also be present at an IPL venue for the first time since 2019, adding immensely to the event's spectacle.
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