Optimistic about the Indian Premier League (IPL) success as a TV-only
event, Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly on Monday
said that he expects the T20 tournament to shatter viewership records this
year. The IPL, which begins on September 19, hit a rough patch when 13 members
of the Chennai Super Kings contingent, including two players, tested positive
for coronavirus last week.

“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,” PTI quoted Ganguly as saying.

“There is a positive in everything,” he added.

Ganguly also said holding the IPL was important to ensure a sense of
normalcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused disruption in every
aspect of daily life.

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.

“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.

He said the present situation is nothing but a small bump.

“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.