Australia batsman and Rajasthan Royals captain Steve Smith is hopeful this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League will go ahead.

The start of the 2020 IPL has been moved from 29 March to 15 April amid preventative measures against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament might be delayed to later this year, too, as the Indian government continues to implement strict rules and travel bans.

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‘There is plenty going on in the world at present, but hopefully we can get an IPL at some stage,’ Smith said during a Rajasthan Royals podcast.

‘The two seasons that I captained the Royals were both half seasons. Shane Watson gave me the captaincy in 2015 and then last year out of the blue, I took over at the back end of the season. I am looking at having a crack at it full time and the Royals have a pretty good squad.’

The Royals squad also features South African batsman David Miller. The hard-hitting left-hander spent several seasons with the Kings XI Punjab, but has since moved to the Royals, who won the inaugural IPL in 2008. They have gone without a title since.

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