This was an extraordinary year that continues to be tumultous one for one and all. The normal became abnormal and the abnormal became the new normal. Since March, from life to work to every thing else took a massive hit and everything came to a standstill.
This rang true for sports as well, since the majority of the big tournaments either had to be postponed indefinitely or had to face delays of six months or a year in most cases. Whether it was Olympics or Wimbledon or ICC T20 World Cup, Asia Cup and most of the bilaterals, were postponed to the next year.
Apart from the recently concluded Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) League, none other tournament or series took place in India. India's domestic tournaments too were dealt a massive blow as Cricket Associations are struggling due to matches and tournaments not taking place.
India's major cricketing tournament - Indian Premier League (IPL) - too met the same uncertainty after its first and then the second kick-off dates were not met. With so much money, sponsorships, revebue deals and costs riding on it, the league had to take place in some way or the other, even if it had to be held behind closed doors.
With India's coronavirus situation worsening, the league's plans of materialising in India were in jeopardy and BCCI and IPL Governing Council had to look for an alternate venue with all safety protocols and SOPs in place.
Having organised it in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the past, BCCI saw UAE as the best viable option.
1800 members including players, support staff, families, owners, organising members, administrative members, broadcasters and others, had to be first quarantined, then COVID-19 tests before and after flying, then repeated quarantines, social distancing, etc. - It was a lot to pull off.
180-plus players coming from different parts of the world, into 20-25 player squads each, holding 60 matches and not allowed to step out of the bio-bubble maintained, it was difficult on the players too, being subjected to routine of train-play-hotel and repeat.
The strict SOPs and the adherence to them were key to getting the IPL started and getting it done every single day for 53 days in a row, was not an easy task. With two players from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) testing positive was not a good news. This happened even before the start of the IPL had everyone worried and fears of disruptions started to lurk around a bit more.
But once the IPL started, it did many things for the game and the people around the world. That competitive cricket was back in India (not literally) and that for those four hours, everyone used to forget what was happening around them or in the world.
Every player and member has to undergo tests after every game and adherence to the Protocols was a must. After the first game, the games started coming thick and fast and it was matter of days for it to reach its business end.
To get every plan in place and then get it implemented were two different things altogether. From franchises to the BCCI to the players and every stakeholder deserves much more credit to finally be able to pull off such a humongous ask and be able to come out successfully on the other side.
Considering the faulty bio-bubbles and what irregularities and carelessness can do (South Africa-England series and Pakistan players testing positive in New Zealand), now it seems it was written in stars for the IPL to get underway and transpire the way it did.
Breaking one viewership record after another, what IPL did most importantly was that it brought cheers amongst the fans and people around the world, who once again looked at sport for some solace in a year filled with sorrows and grief.