Delhi To Host 1st IPL Tie On Wednesday Amid Skyrocketing Covid Cases

Cricket Image for Delhi To Host 1st IPL Tie On Wednesday Amid Skyrocketing Covid Cases (Image Source: Google)

Delhi will host its first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday amid skyrocketing Covid-19 cases and during the complete lockdown in the national Capital where patients are gasping due to shortage of oxygen and dying due to lack of beds in hospitals.

On Monday, Delhi reported over 20,000 new Covid cases and 380 deaths. The situation vis-a-vis oxygen supply is so grave in Delhi that the Delhi High Court on Tuesday told the Delhi government that it is unable to manage oxygen cylinders for patients, the court would ask the Central government to manage oxygen supply.

The question gaining currency is: Is it fair to organize IPL matches when the country is virtually crippled due to the pandemic? But so far, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has insisted that the matches would go ahead as scheduled.

On Wednesday, Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla grounds at the Arun Jaitley Stadium will host the first of eight IPL matches, between table-toppers Chennai Super Kings and wooden-spooners SunRisers Hyderabad, starting at 7.30 pm - just half-an-hour before the night curfew starts. On Thursday, Mumbai Indians play Rajasthan Royals at the same venue. Teams will practice till May 7, a day before the last match is played.

An IPL match usually lasts three-and-a-half hours. No spectators are allowed in the IPL this year. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) on Tuesday said that Wednesday's match will take place as scheduled.

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