During IPL 2020 in the UAE, the BCCI and franchises implemented some of the strictest COVID-19 protocols ever seen in cricket to ensure player safety and the smooth running of the tournament. Here's a complete breakdown:
🧪 1. Rigorous Testing
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All players, staff, and officials underwent multiple COVID-19 tests before departure from India.
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After arrival in the UAE, a mandatory 6-day quarantine was enforced with 3 negative tests before entering the bio-bubble.
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Once inside the bubble, regular RT-PCR tests every 3–5 days were conducted throughout the tournament.
🏨 2. Strict Bio-Bubbles
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Teams were housed in bio-secure hotels, where floors or entire wings were booked exclusively for them.
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No one could enter or exit the bubble without clearance and quarantine.
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Each team had its own designated hotel, training venue, and transport to minimize contact.
🚫 3. No Crowd or External Interaction
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All matches were played behind closed doors, with no fans allowed inside stadiums.
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Players were barred from interacting with fans, media, or family members outside the bubble.
👥 4. Movement Restrictions
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Team members could only move between hotel, stadium, and training venues via designated, sanitized team buses.
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Drivers and hotel staff were also part of the bubble and had to follow the same quarantine/testing rules.
🧼 5. Sanitization & Hygiene
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Dressing rooms, dugouts, and training gear were regularly sanitized.
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Players followed strict personal hygiene, including frequent hand sanitizing and mask-wearing (outside training and matches).
🧠 6. Mental Health Support
📱 7. Tracking & Monitoring
⚠️ 8. Contingency Plans
✅ In short: IPL 2020 became a model for successful sports event management during the pandemic, with no major outbreak disrupting the season.
Want to know how players coped mentally or how the protocols influenced on-field performance?