What if Kohli smashed a hundred at Lord’s? What if Dhoni finished off in style at The Oval? Sounds unreal? Well, it nearly came true in 2021!
Imagine a bustling Lord’s, the iconic Oval, or a vibrant Edgbaston... Visualise Virat Kohli smashing boundaries for the Royal Challengers Bangalore or MS Dhoni finishing in style for the Chennai Super Kings! Sounds peculiar, doesn’t it? Well, that was nearly a reality in 2021.
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When the IPL was abruptly suspended due to COVID-19, a group of English counties made an astonishing proposal: host the remainder of the competition in the UK! But why didn’t this plan take off? Let’s explore the fascinating what-ifs of an IPL in England!
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The MCC, along with Surrey, Warwickshire, and Lancashire counties, proposed an exciting idea: to host IPL 2021 in England this September. With iconic stadiums like Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, and Old Trafford in the mix, the idea of England hosting the world’s biggest T20 league has caught fans’ attention.
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These counties also mentioned that this event could help players maintain peak form before the T20 World Cup while keeping the pitches in the UAE well-prepared. It seems like a win-win situation, doesn’t it?
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The idea was to complete the entire tournament in just two weeks! Double headers? Triple headers? It was shaping up to be a thrilling cricket festival. With packed crowds anticipated, English fans were set to experience a T20 event to remember.
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However, there was a significant hurdle—the international cricket schedule. England’s Test series against India wrapped up on September 14, and with other teams also tied up, finding a workable schedule turned into a real challenge.
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Amidst the thrill, several challenges came to light:
COVID-19 concerns – Bringing players from various countries involved navigating strict quarantine measures.
Tight international schedules – England had white-ball tours while other teams were tied up with their commitments.
BCCI’s silence – Even though counties expressed their interest, the BCCI never made it official.
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Ultimately, the UAE was selected as the host. For a brief moment, cricket fans imagined the dazzling spectacle of IPL fireworks illuminating the skies over England. Can you picture an IPL final at Lord’s? Wouldn’t that have been something special?
