IPL 2021 in India, 7-8 team women's league in 2022: Sourav Ganguly

The coronavirus pandemic not only postponed the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but also shited the location all the way to the UAE.

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly has stated that the 2021 season will be held in the home country in April-May.

Ganguly believes the BCCI will be ready to host the tournament in India. “Yeah, absolutely. April-May we’ll have another one [IPL 2021 season],” Ganguly told India Today.

“The UAE was only for the IPL. We will host England in India. We will host domestic cricket in India. Ranji Trophy, we will create a bio bubble and we will do it. We’ll be fine. ISL is starting in November in Goa. The worry is not there anymore and the IPL has helped a lot,” Ganguly added.

Women's T20 Challenge to get more teams?

The former India captain also insisted that BCCI are committed to developing women’s cricket. He said that they are looking to have a separate IPL for women in two years’ time. This year, the Women’s T20 Challenge was also staged in the UAE with three teams participating.

“At the present moment, there are only three teams in the women’s IPL and I believe that in a couple of years’ time we will be good enough to have a separate IPL with seven teams, eight teams like the franchise-based teams for the women as well,” Ganguly said.

“Women’s cricket all around the world has taken off. You see the women’s T20 World Cup final in Australia this year. They had 80,000 people at the MCG which is as good as having a men’s final and India has done well where two back-to-back finals in England they lost and they lost at the MCG this year, so it’s very important that we continue with the talent, it’ll only get bigger,” he added.

England's tour to India:

Ganguly also said that India will also host England for a bilateral series in February. England are expected to tour India after the team returns from Australia.