The organisers of the Indian Premier League are confident they will be able to match the success of last season, when it was staged in the UAE, after announcing the schedule for the 2021 campaign.
After being relocated to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah due to Covid issues back at home, the 2020 IPL was deemed an unqualified success.
Despite that, the organisers were intent on returning the event to its homeland for the new season.
Plans to counter the continuing effects of the pandemic initially included staging the whole season at four grounds in Mumbai.
When that was ruled out by a spike in cases in that city, the idea of a return to the UAE was mooted.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, for example, has relaid its centre wickets on the outside chance the competition was going to return to the emirates.
On Sunday, though, it was confirmed the season will start on April 9 in Chennai, with a fixture between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata will also host fixtures.
“After hosting the tournament safely and successfully in the UAE last year with all safety protocols in place, the BCCI is confident of hosting the IPL at home with health and safety of players and all people involved being paramount,” Jay Shah, the honorary secretary of the Indian board, said in a statement.
“The fixtures of the tournament have been mapped in a way that every team will travel only three times during the league stage, thus reducing commute and minimising risk.
“The VIVO IPL this year at home will be played behind closed doors to begin with and a call on allowing spectators will be taken at a later stage of the tournament.”
The play-offs and final will all be at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, meaning IPL cricket will be played at the world’s largest cricket ground for the first time.
Each team will play at four venues during the league stage, with all matches to be played at neutral venues, meaning no team will play at their home venue.
There will be 11 double headers. Afternoon games will start at 2pm UAE time, with evening games at 6pm UAE.
