IPL 2021 to resume on September 19 with match between CSK and MI - Reports

Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL

The starting fixture for the remainder of IPL 2021, slated to take place in UAE, has been reportedly revealed. It is worth noting that there had been reports of the starting and ending date of the mega event earlier as well, however, a detailed schedule on how the rest of 33 matches will be played across venues is still awaited.

IPL 2021 that kicked off on April 9 was slated to end on May 30 but the rise in COVID-19 cases in the bio-bubbles forced the tournament to be called off on May 4. Later, in the month, BCCI announced that the remainder of the tournament will take place in UAE, the venue which had hosted the entire 13th edition of the mega event last year. Meanwhile, they refrained themselves from giving any official dates for the 13th edition resumption of the marquee event.

IPL 2021 will resume in Dubai with a match between arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings on September 19, states a report carried by the Indian Express. Notably, the same date for the resumption of the mega event was revealed by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla in one of his interactions with the media.

IPL 2021 final to take place on October 15

The report also claims that the playoffs will kick off on October 10 with the First Qualifier to be played in Dubai. The Eliminator will be played on October 11 and the Second Qualifier will take place on October 13, with Sharjah being the venue both the matches. Meanwhile, the final of the 13th edition will be played on October 15 in Dubai.

It is worth noting that earlier there were reports of BCCI looking to finish IPL 2021 by October 10 in order to give the centrally-bound Indian players some break ahead of the T20 World Cup that is slated to kick off on October 17. Now, if the latest update on IPL schedule turns out to be true, the Indian players playing series in England will have to stay in the bio-bubble for a much longer period of time. The five-match Test series in UK is scheduled to end on September 14, and IPL 2021 resumes just after that. Hence, it will be a big challenge for the BCCI to accommodate rest days for the players amid the busy schedule.