Dubai, UAE: Indian Premier League (IPL) hostilities will resume on Sunday here in front of spectators, but without a host of top international stars after four months of pandemic suspension.
Fans will be in the stands for the first time in two years when Rohit Sharma’s title-holders, Mumbai Indians, take on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in Dubai to restart the high-octane Twenty20 competition.
The tournament was halted in May because of a devastating surge in coronavirus deaths in India, prompting foreign players to rush for every available flight out. Many are not coming back.
England stars including Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes will be missing.
Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins, who signed for Kolkata Knight Riders for $2 million in 2020, will also be absent because of his partner’s pregnancy.
Some England players are injured and others have opted to rest before next month’s T20 World Cup.
