IPL will lift the spirits of a lot of people - Ravi Shastri

Team India's head coach, Ravi Shastri believes that the IPL, which is scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates, is a 'much-needed chaos' that every sports enthusiast needs during the turbulent phase.

"You know with this COVID thing happening, once this IPL starts in the UAE, you will see that chaos back again, which is much needed," Shastri was quoted as saying during a webinar ‘Arabian Sea Dialogue' organised by the Observer Research Foundation.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday confirmed that the Dream11 has bagged the title sponsorship rights of the Indian Premier League for a period of three years. Considering the recent situation wherein the people are not supposed to wander out of their homes, Shastri stated that the two-month-long cricketing extravaganza will act as a stress-buster in these times. 

"It's been depressing, it been unforeseen, the world hasn't seen anything like this since the Second World War, to just get somesports action, back on television, day in and day out will lift the spirits of a lot of people and it is much needed at this moment of time," Shastri added.

The 58-year-old also said that the middle-east country has all the prerequisites of hosting a showpiece event of this stature. "It is a great gesture by the Indian government to take cricket to the UAE and the UAE government in responding (to it). I remember, in 2014, when the IPL came there (to the UAE), his Excellency did not leave one stone unturned and ensured that it was a top-class IPL and the public responded brilliantly," the head coach said. 

Last month, the secretary-general of the Emirate Cricket Board, Mubashshir Usmani claimed that they are fully equipped with all the factors that would contribute to the successful edition of the Indian Premier League.