The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday has decided to suspend the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) with an immediate effect after four players have been tested positive for COVID-19. The announcement came after Delhi Capitals’ experienced spinner Amit Mishra and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha has tested COVID-19 positive as well.
While Wriddhiman Saha has been in isolation since yesterday after his tests came positive, Mishra has been tested positive today and the entire Delhi Capitals team have been in hard quarantine too. However, the IPL 2021 suspension has invited mixed reactions from fans on social media as some has praised the BCCI for taking necessary steps amid this situation, others were left heartbroken as well.
Here is how fans reacted after the suspension of IPL 2021:
NO WARNER ..NO SRH
NO SRH…NO IPLIPL 2021 suspended by BCCI@SunRisers @BCCI @mipaltan @DelhiCapitals @ChennaiIPL @jbairstow21 #OrangeOrNothing #OrangeArmy @rajasthanroyals @Koke6 @RCBTweets #WarnerOrNothing
— νєиυ (@PrathipatiVenu) May 4, 2021
#IPL2021 Suspended😭😭#ipl2021suspended #heartbreaking #COVIDSecondWave pic.twitter.com/Ujxr4WI6Q5
— Satish (@Y_satish184) May 4, 2021
IPL 2021 has been suspended.#iplcancel #IPL2021 #CancelIPL pic.twitter.com/WXxCbagMJP
— Jethalal Bhai (@Jethalalbhai) May 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/SHANE50837682/status/1389493200360927235?s=20
https://twitter.com/itsmanjeet_/status/1389493187530526723?s=20
After Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers Sandeep Warrier and Varun Chakravarthy returned with positive results on Monday, Chennai Super Kings’ bowling coach L Balaji has also been tested positive as well. After this, KKR vs RCB match was postponed too as well.
“The Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect. 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 wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind,” BCCI stated in a release.
India’s tally of coronavirus infections has surpassed over 20 million on Tuesday, following 357,229 new cases that have been reported over the last 24 hours, as the country is currently battling with the second wave of the deadly virus as well.
‘The IPL has been suspended for time being. We spoke to everyone from teams, broadcasters and all those who were involved in it. It was decided to defer the IPL especially looking at the sentiment and current situation in the country. For us players health is paramount and BCCI will always keeps safety first. We will meet again soon and decide when we can conclude this edition, we will have to see when is the next window available,’ said Rajeev Shukla, BCCI vice president.
