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

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

"We have no crowds, and the match is being conducted in a strict bio-bubble. So, there should be no problem with its safe progress," said a DDCA official on Tuesday.

The DDCA has booked Roshanara Club ground - a first-class venue in old Delhi -- for teams' practice sessions till May 7, a day before the last match in Delhi is scheduled.

"There are four teams here, so we needed another ground, besides the Arun Jaitley Stadium for the practice of the teams." On Tuesday, Mumbai Indians practiced at Roshanara, which is also under strict bio-bubble.

"The ground staff has been lodged in a hall under the old clubhouse. It is under a strict bio-bubble. The staff will be shifted to another place tonight [Tuesday night] since the broadcasters have arrived and the hall will be at their disposal," said the official.

The staff, including the ground staff, is being tested every alternate day. The DDCA administrative staff, as well as the curator, has been lodged at Hotel Lalit on Barakhamba Road, close to the stadium.

While the catering for those traveling with the IPL bandwagon is not the BCCI's responsibility, the food for the staff is being provided by the DDCA, with the cooks also lodged up inside the stadium in the bio-bubble.

"There will be no more than 700 people at the stadium during a match. The DDCA staff plus doctors and fire brigade will make it around 200 people. There will be 400 policemen while the BCCI, franchise officials, and the broadcasters will be around 100," informed the official.