IPL 2020: A brief timeline of India’s most anticipated event

The saga around the IPL has been going on for the last five months. The tournament is scheduled to be played from 19th September to 10th November. Here is a timeline of all the major events in the last 5 months leading to the T20 festival’s 13th edition-

18 February 2020 – BCCI announces schedule for the IPL 2020 with the opening clash between Mumbai Indian and Chennai Super Kings.

27 February 2020 – While most fans were expecting Kane Williamson to lead the side, Sunrisers Hyderabad announces the news on Twitter that David Warner is named as their new captain for the season.

29 February 2020 – BCCI announces four-team Women’s T20 Challenge.

4 March 2020 – BCCI introduces few changes to the IPL including the third umpire calling the front and back foot no-balls. It is further stated that the capped and overseas players could be loaned during the tournament this season.

11 March 2020 – A plea is filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the central government not to allow the BCCI to conduct IPL games due to the coronavirus outbreak.

13 March 2020 – BCCI suspends the IPL 2020 till 15 April 2020 as a precautionary measure.

31 March 2020 – The stakeholders look at the September-November window to make the IPL 2020 season happen.

14 April 2020 – BCCI officially suspends IPL 2020 till further notice over health concerns regarding COVID-19 and lockdown measures implemented by the Government of India.

10 May 2020 – Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) offers to host the IPL 2020, Arun Dhumal, BCCI treasurer states.

9 June 2020 – Asia Cup 2020 scheduled in September 2020 gets postponed till June 2021; the possibility for IPL 2020 increases.

11 June 2020 – The BCCI president Sourav Ganguly states that the Indian board is searching for every possible option to organize IPL.

20 July 2020 – ICC postpones the 2020 T20 World Cup in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in the IBC board meeting. The pathway for IPL 2020 gets cleared.

21 July 2020 – Brijesh Patel, the IPL governing council chairman, confirms that the BCCI has written to the Indian government for permission to host outside India.

24 July 2020 – The IPL 2020 dates are released to be September 19 with the final to be played on November 8 in UAE.

27 July 2020 – The BCCI sends an acceptance letter to the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for hosting the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020).

28 July 2020 – BCCI shares a detailed plan of IPL 2020 while confirming dates for the upcoming governing council meetings.

30 July 2020 – IPL final shifted to November 10.

2 August 2020 – BCCI gets Sports ministry’s nod for November 10 final.

4 August 2020 – VIVO pulls out as the title sponsors of the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the social outrage.

6 August 2020 – Franchises receive Standard Operating Procedures from BCCI.

12 August 2020 – RR’s fielding coach tests positive.

15 August 2020 – Tata Group, Reliance Jio, Patanjali, Dream11, Byjus, and Unacademy meet the deadline for submitting Expression of Interest (EOI).

18 August 2020 – The leading Fantasy platform, Dream11 bags the title sponsorship of the IPL for 2020 for a whopping amount of INR 222 crore.

? New partner on board

More details on IPL & Cred association ? https://t.co/Fc1T9CrohT pic.twitter.com/MCDA39Mw6U

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 2, 2020

26 August 2020 – Harry Gurney ruled out of the IPL.

27 August 2020 – Jason Roy ruled out of the IPL. Daniel Sams is named as the replacement.

29 August 2020 – Suresh Raina pulls out of the tournament due to personal reasons. Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad test COVID positive

30 August 2020 – BCCI ropes in Bengaluru-based Edu-tech firm ‘Unacademy’ as a new central sponsor for the IPL for three years.

31 August 2020 – “We’re thrilled to welcome Adam Zampa in RCB colors. He replaces Kane Richardson.” announces RCB.

2 September 2020 – Mumbai Indians’ official website confirms the news of Lasith Malinga’s unavailability for the whole season.

4 September 2020 – The veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh cites personal to make himself unavailable for the entire 2020 edition of IPL.

6 September 2020 – The wait ends, BCCI releases the IPL schedule

7 September 2020 – The Delhi franchise issues a statement as an assistant physiotherapist tests COVID 19 positive.

9 September 2020 – Sourav Ganguly flies to the UAE.

12 September 2020 – KKR rope in Ali Khan as Harry Gurney’s replacement. Ali Khan to be the first player from the USA to feature in the IPL history.