Sourav Ganguly hints at having fans in some capacity during IPL 2020

The thirteenth instalment of the Indian Premier League is all set to begin on 19 September and for the first time it will be contested behind closed doors. As per a plethora of media industry veterans this year's tournament is estimated to draw all-time high viewership on Television and OTT platforms. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly expects IPL 2020 to be of great benefit to the broadcaster.

While delivering an online lecture as part of the 'Symbiosis Golden Jubilee Lecture Series', Sourav Ganguly talked about the importance of not having in-stadia experience given the current circumstances.

"Crowds will watch it on television...they (the broadcasters) are actually expecting the highest rating of IPL this season because they believe if (people) don't turn up in the ground, they will be actually watching on their television sets," he said. "There is a positive in everything," he added.

The BCCI President has hinted that they might be open to allow 30 per cent of the fans to spectate matches inside the stadiums in later phase of the tournament, with social distancing norms in place. 

Asked how cricketers would feel about playing in front of empty stands, Ganguly said, "...because of the COVID and infection, you don't want people to be too close to each other, but very soon you will see there will be 30 per cent people in the ground with social distancing.”

The 53-day T20 extravaganza will be played at three different venues - Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in the middle-eastern nation of UAE. 

"They are properly tested and allowed to enter the ground. But I think that is going to happen over a period of time," he added referring to the possibility of IPL's later matches being opened for fans depending on the COVID-19 situation.

"...it is actually an effort to bring life back to normal. This will go on for another five-six months till the vaccine comes and I am sure everything then will be back to normal," he asserted.

The 48-year-old believes that we can overcome this whole virus situation soon and establish normalcy. 

"This is just a virus which is already weakening and we will hopefully get past it. These are small bumps in our life, and we have to get past it. We could have easily avoided the IPL...but then, that's what we humans are and that's why we have survived all the difficult times. There have been wars, which people have come out from, there have been other bugs which people have come out from over the years."

"It is only because mankind, people like you and me, and all of us in this discussion have the mental mindset to say 'hey listen if people are pushing us to the wall, we will find a way back and get life normal'. I think that is important," he added.