No clarity as of now about venues of IPL 2021: Laxman

There's no clarity about the venue for the Indian Premier League 2021 as yet, confirmed VVS Laxman, but the Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor believes that irrespective of where the tournament is held, a 25-player squad should be enough to adapt to the conditions on offer.

"There's no clarity as of now (about the venue of the IPL). The BCCI will weigh various options, and [do] whatever is best for the tournament," Laxman said. "We know it's a high-profile tournament and there are various stakeholders who play a very important part in the tournament. Credit to BCCI the way they conducted the tournament in the UAE following all the protocols given the pandemic."

When asked if no clarity regarding the venue was a hindrance to the franchises in the way they went about strategising for the upcoming season, he said: "The reason we have a squad of 25 is because we choose a squad which can perform in various conditions.

"Even if the tournament happens in India you get different conditons in different parts of the country. If you go to Chennai then you get a turner, in Mumbai of Bangalore, you get a belter for the batsmen and graveyard for the bowlers. So there's a reason why we have a squad of 25. It's not going to play a major role."

Venky Mysore, Kolkata Knight Riders' CEO, concurred with his compeer. "Every team you can see has gone for that balance to adapt to whatever conditions we're given. These are unusual times and we're all very supportive of the BCCI. That the IPL was held itself was fantastic given the pandemic. If it happens in India, we're supportive of working through that and if it's elsewhere too. Most important the collective effort towards the tournament happening and in the most unimpeded way."