Arun Jaitley Stadium not to host Delhi Capitals' first two home games in IPL 2024 - Reports

While BCCI is all set to release the schedule for the first 15 days of the Indian Premier League 2024 on February 22, there are reports that the match of Delhi Capitals will be shifted from Delhi. DC may not play their first two home games at the Arun Jaitely Stadium and they might be shifted to Pune and Cuttack.

As per a report by Indian Express, the DDCA opted to relocate the fixture since the stadium will host 11 Women’s Premier League (WPL) matches in 13 days during the tournament’s second leg.

As quoted by Indian Express, a DDCA official said that Delhi Capitals will play their first two home games in Pune and Cuttack respectively. The major reason behind the same is the Women’s Premier League, which is going to host 11 back-to-back games in two weeks.

The DDCA official further said that with the IPL starting on March 22, and Delhi Capitals playing their first game on March 24, they won’t be able to prepare the pitches, due to which the first two home games of Delhi Capitals are being shifted.

Delhi Capitals’ first two IPL 2024 home games to be shifted: Reports

He said, “Delhi’s first two games will be moved to Pune and Cuttack, we have informed the BCCI about it. The reason is WPL. We will be hosting a total of 11 matches in two weeks and with IPL starting from March 22 the first IPL match in Delhi was supposed to take place on March 24, so we don’t have enough time to prepare pitches. The BCCI has agreed to shift the first two matches and has also given us some breathing space.”

Even during the Ranji Trophy, the DDCA struggled to find venues for the matches. They had to reschedule three of their home matches so that the fields could be prepared for the WPL.

The DDA (Delhi Development Authority) shifted Delhi’s match versus Uttarakhand from Roshanara Club to IS Bindra PCA Stadium when the contract expired in September of last year. They will play their next two home games against Baroda and Odisha at Palam and the Jamia Millia Islamia University Cricket Ground.

The official further said, “We have been struggling with the venues in this season. Out of four home matches, we have played one match at the Arun Jaitely Stadium. The matches against Baroda and Odisha were moved as we’re preparing pitches for the WPL and now we are facing the same issue with the IPL.”

DC To Play First Two Home Matches In Visakhapatnam – BCCI

However, later the BCCI confirmed that the DC will play their first two home matches in Visakhapatnam.

“Having chosen to play their first two home matches in Visakhapatnam, the Delhi Capitals will first host the Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, 31^st March in the port city and will then face the Kolkata Knight Riders at the same venue on Wednesday, 3^rd April,” BCCI confirmed.

Recently, Indian Premier League chairman Arun Dhumal stated that the 17th edition of the cash-rich league will start on March 22 in Chennai. According to IPL tradition, the first match of each season is played between the previous season’s finalists. There are rumors that the Chennai Super Kings will face the Gujarat Titans in the first match of the IPL 2024, however, neither Arun Dhumal nor his team have confirmed this.

The whole IPL schedule will be determined once the Election Commission issues the nationwide polling dates, which are expected to occur in the second or third week of March. The IPL chairman expressed confidence that more than ten venues will be included and that the league will not need to be shifted outside of the country to avoid coinciding with the elections.