The IPL 2022 Governing Council has reportedly stated that the tournament might be held in Mumbai and Pune while Ahmedabad will host the final on June 5.
Follow Us
The IPL 2022 Mega Auction is all done and dusted. Now, it is the turn of the IPL 2022 to be played. The BCCI has made it clear that they want to play all their matches in India but the number of venues might change. According to a report in Outlook, the IPL 2022 league stages might be played in Mumbai and Pune. The final might be held in Ahmedabad on June 5. The Outlook report stated that pitch preparations have begun at the Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium, and the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Apart from that, the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune is also considered.
In the IPL 2021 edition, matches were played in Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Delhi while there were matches scheduled in Kolkata and Bangalore. But, the logistics of the bio-bubble and air travel at the height of the coronavirus second wave was impossible to maintain. Bio-bubble breaches in Delhi and Ahmedabad saw the tournament suspended mid-way. The tournament resumed in the middle of 2021 in the UAE.
Now, with matches in just four venues at a distance of 3-4 hours, the chances of traveling by air have reduced dramatically. Wankhede and Brabourne are just a couple of minutes away. DY Patil in Navi Mumbai is just an hour away. In case of an emergency, there is always the BKC Reliance Ground in Bandra that can host a few matches. Mumbai also has plenty of five-star hotels and this might give teams far more flexibility.
Read – IPL 2022: Suresh Raina, Amit Mishra Goes Unsold, end of the road for them?
However, there is no reports of fans being allowed into the stadiums. With the coronavirus cases coming down in the country, the BCCI might be tempted to get fans in for the matches in Pune and Mumbai. If that is the case, then Mumbai Indians might benefit from their ‘home fans’ coming into the stadium in droves. It remains to be seen whether fans from other franchises and states might be allowed for the matches. Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Hyderabad may get to host playoff games.
With 10 teams in IPL 2022, there will be double headers almost every day. Each venue will host about 18 games. Matches will start at 4 PM and 8 PM IST. One will hope that coronavirus does not create havoc like it did in IPL 2020 and 2021. This might be the first time since 2019 that the IPL might be played in its entirety in India.
