RCB skipper Virat Kohli is happy about IPL being back in India. Playing in neutral venues is a positive thing as the strength of the squad comes to the fore, he said.
The 2020 season of the Indian Premier League was moved to the United Arab Emirates due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising cases in India. Every team had a bio-bubble in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and they travelled only on match days to either of the three venues – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The entire tournament was played behind closed doors, and the viewership records went through the roof. The 2020 season’s opening game had 20 crore people tuning in to watch on television. In the first week, a record 269 million viewers watched the tournament, which was a rise by 15% when compared to the 2019 edition.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli expects a similar following this year as well. Moreover, he is happy that the Indian T20 extravaganza is back in India and feels that playing at neutral venues makes the tournament even more competitive.
“There is nothing like playing in M Chinnaswamy Stadium in front of your home crowd and I understand that obviously fans will miss watching us play but the good thing is that we are back in India and one more positive is there is no home advantage.
Every team is playing in neutral venues and the strength of your squad really comes to the fort. Precisely why last IPL was so competitive, until about the last three-four games, everyone was in reckoning to qualify,”
Virat Kohli was quoted saying in a virtual press conference ahead of the 2021 IPL season opener in Chennai.
No team has the advantage of playing at their respective home venues. They will play in three or four venues throughout the tournament and there will be only limited travel. Moreover, the BCCI has announced that the tournament will start behind closed doors and they may consider bringing in the fans at a later stage depending on the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Reigning champions Mumbai Indians take on RCB in the opening game of the 2021 season.
