IPL is all set to start on the 7th of April and we are super-excited for the same. Sadly, 6 team captains won’t be present during the opening ceremony of IPL which would be on the 7th of April. Yes, Virat, Warner, Steve, Karthik, Ashwin and Gambhir will give the ceremony a miss.
It is said that these captains would do a special shoot on the 6th of April and then go back the same evening. Till 2017, captains had to attend the opening ceremony for signing the “Spirit of Cricket” pledge, but sadly, it won’t be possible this year.
Do you know the reason?
Well, the IPL authorities haven’t planned things well, which is why 6 captains won’t be able to attend the ceremony. It is because of the logistics issue; 2 matches have been scheduled on the 8th of April i.e. Delhi Daredevils V/S Kings XI Punjab and RCB V/S KKR.
As per the BCCI officials,
“IPL team should have done their homework. They are calling Gautam Gambhir and Ravichandran Ashwin a day before an afternoon match. That’s absolute lack of homework.”
The logistics issue
For example, if Gambhir and Ashwin attend the ceremony, it would be difficult for them to travel to their respective cities. They would have taken a 9 pm flight to Delhi (From Mumbai) because there are no evening flights to Chandigarh.
Chandigarh airport would be close on Sunday morning i.e. 8th of April and so, taking a flight from Delhi to Chandigarh would be difficult. Due to this reason, they would have to travel by car and that too during night time which would be exhaustive. So, how would it be possible to play a 4 pm match after a tiring journey?
Same would be the case with Dinesh Karthik and Virat; although their match is at 8pm next day, it would be damn tiring for them.
CK Khanna, the acting president, said,
“We are aware that there are some logistical issues that have cropped up. It will be sorted at the earliest. I think captains will be called a day earlier and their portion will be shot and shown during the opening ceremony.”
Don’t you think this is a logical decision?
