The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season has been abruptly suspended as India battles the second wave of covid. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the decision on Tuesday after players from multiple franchises as well as staff members contracted coronavirus.
Earlier today, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha and Kolkata Knight Riders’ spinner Varun Chakravarthy tested covid positive in addition to medium-pacer Sandeep Warrier. Coronavirus has allegedly breached the bio-bubbles of over two franchises. This has caused the entire team of Sunrisers Hyderabad to go into quarantine, reports TOI.
Official confirmation: #IPL2021 postponed with immediate effect due to COVID-19 crisis in India. #COVID19India #COVIDSecondWave #IPL pic.twitter.com/oBPZnCpuZI
— Manasi Pathak (@ThatUnitedLady) May 4, 2021
“The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and well-being of all the stakeholders in mind. The BCCI will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021,” said an official statement.
Therefore, today’s match between KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore in addition to the match between Sunrisers and Mumbai Indians has been canceled, confirms IE.
On the IPL being suspended & Australian players: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said there won't be exceptions for them. Players will have to stay in India until travel ban lifts or travel to another country for two weeks before coming back to Australia. #IPL2021
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) May 4, 2021
Some cricket fans applauded the move, while many expressed their disappointment via memes.
So finally ipl is cancel postponed of suspended anything but more importantly with this we entered in real lockdown #nightlife #cancelled #IPL2021
— Vishal. (@we_shall_says) May 4, 2021
2 things were suspended today. First is #IPL2021 and the second is #KanganaRanaut's Twitter account.
Hence the #StarWarsDay proved itself.#MayThe4thBeWithYou
— Ankush Gupta (@Agbeforeu) May 4, 2021
Purple cap holder Harshal Patel tonight. #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/Np5pH0l2RR
— ಹೆಸರು ಬೇಳೆ (@WengerBhakt) May 4, 2021
Ipl 2021 suspended
Le Ipl fans*#iplsuspended#IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/5HZ5uFsUee
— 🖤𝙎𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧_𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙠®🧸 (@Sarcaster_Stark) May 4, 2021
SRH fans are the most happiest people in India rightnow @SunRisers 😏 pic.twitter.com/OjDevIqMo9
— Weirdo™ (@Banuspartan) May 4, 2021
Cricket lovers right now.. 🤐 pic.twitter.com/Hfa0uwvLaw
— Bhupendra Namdev (@Bhupendr_namdev) May 4, 2021
Me and my bois after IPL suspension news 🥵 pic.twitter.com/BcM39DxYiT
— alwyn_felix̷ (@alwyn_felix) May 4, 2021
Meanwhile @SunRisers team:-#IPL #CancelIPL pic.twitter.com/WVc3ifrzog
— Mánikanta Naidù (@_Manikanta_JSP) May 4, 2021
#IPL suspended for this season: Vice-President BCCI Rajeev Shukla to ANI
RCB FANS – pic.twitter.com/DlfUUH2bDf
— Shashwat Shukla (@shashwatshukla_) May 4, 2021
Netflix, Amazon Prime to IPL fans:#iplpostponed #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/3sQpraUV7Y
— akanksha 🚩 (@AkankshaRaina3) May 4, 2021
What do you think of BCCI’s decision?