Aussie speedster Pat Cummins who was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League feels that the organisers might have tweaked with a few things to host this edition of the tournament in India despite the second wave of COVID-19 creating a ruckus in the country. The pandemic has taken the Indian medical system off guard with thousands of people losing their lives daily.
Cummins stated that the 2020 edition held in UAE was a very well organised one and incredibly well-run. He felt the organisers tried to push it a step further by organising the 14th edition at home, which backfired after the tournament had to be suspended indefinitely after several COVID cases were reported from the respective bio-bubbles. The IPL was suspended after two KKR players, three CSK members and a DC and an SRH cricketer tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.
"Last year we had the IPL held over in the UAE and that was an incredibly well-run tournament," Cummins was quoted as saying by Fox Sports. "This year, they tried to push it little step further and have it over here in multiple cities in India. I'm sure looking back they might have tweaked a few things,” he further added.
It must be taken into account that Cummins’ statement was made before the league was postponed indefinitely. With Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier from KKR testing positive, it seemed inevitable that the tournament might have to be halted. The BCCI had no other options when it was reported that the virus had breached through DC and SRH bubbles as well after Amit Mishra and Wriddhiman Saha tested positive.
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji and a bus driver also tested positive. Later batting coach Michael Hussey also tested positive for the same.
"It's two different worlds. We're lucky, we're safe, we're comfortable and there's people just trying to get basic medical treatment. First thing was to find out whether us playing the IPL was the right thing and basically everyone said, we would be lost without the IPL for three or four hours every night. I'm just trying to do my bit. India's been such a good country to me and cricketers,” Cummins said.