NEW DELHI (India): The world’s richest Twenty20 tournament, Indian Premier League, starts today between reigning champions Mumbai Indians and Bangalore in an empty stadium in Chennai.
All eight teams are in strict bio-bubbles and testing has been increased as case numbers have skyrocketed to more than 130,000 a day since players arrived to prepare for the eight-week spectacle.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed bubble integrity managers to police each team.
The games are to be held in six cities and all players are also being monitored through tracking devices, team officials said.
Four players including Indian spin star Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals) and Australia’s Daniel Sams (Royal Challengers Bangalore) have tested positive.
Others have withdrawn because of pandemic fears.
Josh Hazlewood pulled out of the tournament this month after spending 10 months in a bubble, becoming the third Australian player after Mitchell Marsh and Josh Philippe to withdraw.
Australia fast bowler Jason Behrendorff has joined Chennai Super Kings in place of Hazlewood.
