IPL 2022: Maharashtra To Hold League Matches, Gujarat To Stage Playoffs: Reports

As per reports in Times Of India, Maharashtra is likely to hold the league matches of IPL 2022, while Ahmedabad will host the playoffs. The season is likely to start from March 27 and continue till the end of May. Two new teams (Ahmedabad, Lucknow) will be added into the fray making the 15th season a 10-team affair. The season is likely to have as many as 74 matches.

BCCI seems to have finalised the venues for the playoffs. The matches will be played at the three stadiums in Mumbai along with games to be played in Pune as well. 

The Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium in Cricket Club of India, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, and the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje, close to Pune. The playoffs could possibly be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

“Yes,I believe that the IPL is coming to CCI, and we’ll be very glad to host it,” CCI president Premal Udani informed TOI.

IPL 2022: 25 to 50 Percent Capacity Crowd To Be Allowed Inside Stadiums: Sources

There are also reports that “some crowd” might be allowed to come inside the stadiums to watch the matches given the Covid situation remains under control in Maharashtra and Pune. How much capacity crowd will be allowed is yet to be confirmed. However, there are thoughts that 25 to 50 percent of the crowd capacity might be allowed. 

“If the number of positive cases aren’t high around that time, the state government authorities are likely to allow around 25% capacity crowds for this year’s IPL,” a top politician said on the condition of anonymity.

“As per that guideline, 50% capacity was allowed indoors, which means that corporate boxes, and perhaps the press box, could be filled up to 50% of the capacity,” a reliable source told this paper.

The officials are willing to replicate the model of the Wankhede stadium which allowed 25 per cent of the capacity crowd when it hosted the Test match between India and New Zealand in December last year.

“Even in the present situation, the Maharashtra government, as per its last order on covid norms, is keen to organize national and international sporting events as long as a strict bio-bubble, and all the covid protocols are maintained. This is why the state govt has allowed the ongoing AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Mumbai and Pune, the Tata Open tennis tournament in Pune and the next edition of the IPL in the same cities,” said the source.

The IPL 2022 auctions will be held on February 12-13 in Bengaluru.

Also Read: IPL 2022 Auction: 5 Openers Who Can Get The Highest Bid