Credit: IPL
On May 3, 2021, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 game between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) got postponed after the former side’s bowlers Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive for COVID-19. The contest was scheduled to be played at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. The incident marked the first instance when the COVID-19 obstructed the IPL game. As per reports, Chakaravarthy left the biosecure bubble through the official green channel to get his injured shoulder scanned. It was believed that this incident might have allowed COVID-19 to breach IPL’s bio-bubble security.
After Chakaravarthy and Warrier, the same day, another news emerged from Delhi that Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) bowling coach Laxmipathy Balaji and a member of the team staff also contracted the virus. The next day, the virus invaded Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) camp as their wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha tested positive and was isolated from the 2016 champions side’s squad.
Series of infections led to IPL 2021 suspension
Following Saha’s infection, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC) stepped up and suspended the competition for an indefinite period. On September 19, 2021, the tournament continued in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the matches hosted by Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
31 matches were played in the Middle-East nation from September 19 to October 15, 2021. CSK and KKR played the final game at the iconic Dubai International Stadium, where the Yellow Army held their nerves and emerged victorious by 27 runs. Chennai lifted the coveted trophy for the fourth time under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. CSK’s Ruturaj Gaikwad became the Orange Cap winner for notching up 635 runs in 16 contests, while RCB speedster Harshal Patel won the illustrious Purple Cap for grabbing 32 wickets in 15 games.
