BCCI is considering the option of relocating the remaining matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 games to Mumbai as it will be minimizing the risks after several Covid-19 related cases were reported from both the venues currently hosting the tournament. If things go to plan, Mumbai could be hosting matches as early as the coming weekend.

If eth relocation happens, the complete schedule will be changes and double-headers will also increase. There is also a likelihood of the IPL final being moved from May 30 to the first week of June.

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The biggest challenge for the BCCI will be to make an airtight IPL bubble in Mumbai, which mainly entails finding hotels for the eight teams to be housed in and preparing the stadia. Luckily, in terms of match fitness, all the three key venues in Mumbai – Wankhede, DY Patil, and Brabourne – were utilized by the teams earlier this month. While the Wankhede hosted 10 IPL matches, the other two grounds, and the Mumbai Cricket Association’s ground in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, was used by various teams for training purposes.

However, BCCI will be taking the final call after verifying with various big hotels in Mumbai that if they are capable of satisfying the various SOPs needed to create a team bubble. The IPL’s next stage is meant to be in Bengaluru and Kolkata, from next week. However, with the second wave of Covid-19 hitting hard in India, and the first cases emerging of the IPL bubble being breached, franchises, players and even some within the BCCI will not be in the mood of taking chances of traveling to different venues. 

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If the IPL is stretched beyond May 30, it will be impacting the World Test Championship final as well, which is scheduled to be played between India and New Zealand in Southampton from June 18-22. One BCCI official, though, pointed out that moving the IPL to Mumbai could offer the advantage of the Indian and New Zealand players flying direct to England, intense od their two-layer journey from Ahmedabad.