Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that hosting the entire IPL in Maharashtra is a wise move given what happened in the last IPL.

According to some reports, BCCI is looking to stage the entire IPL 2022 across 4 venues in Mumbai and Pune. Notable that IPL 2021 was originally scheduled in India across 6 venues But it was halted midway due to a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases. The remaining season was played in UAE in September-October 2021.

If We Have Got A Learning From The Last IPL, Then Don't Flirt With Danger- Aakash Chopra 1

“Entire IPL can happen on four grounds when you staged it in only three grounds in the UAE”- Aakash Chopra 

Speaking to his Youtube Channel, Aakash Chopra pointed out that avoiding air travel is the right way to go to maintain bio-bubble.

“If we have got learning from the last IPL, it is that you cannot be ambitious, you cannot travel. If you are going to travel too much, then you are flirting with danger, do not do that,” Chopra said.

Chopra is optimistic that the BCCI won’t need to move to UAE this time around. Notable that the entire IPL 2020 was staged across three venues in UAE. Also, they also hosted the second half of IPL 2022 in September-October to conclude the season.

“Where will the IPL happen? It is not happening in the UAE, it has not been part of any discussion till now. Because it will happen in March-April, the COVID wave should hopefully go down till then. Things will be a lot normal, a lot easier – it will happen in India,” Chopra said.

Chopra also believes that 4 grounds (across Mumbai & Pune) should be more than sufficient to host 74 games. He pointed out that 3 venues in UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah) hosted 60 games in IPL 2020.

IPL
IPL trophy (Image Credit: Twitter)

“But there has been a contingency plan kept to stage it in Maharashtra only because the travel is very limited in Maharashtra. There are three grounds in Mumbai and if you want to stretch it a little, you can go to Pune – which is at a driving distance,” he pointed out.

“The entire IPL can happen on four grounds when you staged it in only three grounds in the UAE – Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. Then Maharashtra has four grounds – DY Patil, CCI, Wankhede Stadium, and Pune. So you can stage it there, that must be on the table,” he added.

Noteworthy that this time IPL will be a 10-team affair as Ahmedabad and Lucknow are set to join other 8 old franchises.

Also read BCCI Looking To Conduct Entire IPL In Maharashtra – Reports