Indian Premier League governing council chairman Brijesh Patel on Thursday confirmed the dates, matches and venues for the upcoming season. The 15th season of cricket’s biggest professional league will start from March 26, Saturday, and played four venues in Maharashtra – Mumbai and Pune. With ten teams in the fray for the first time, the IPL 2022 season will feature 74 matches. The number of games has been extended with the entry of Lucknow Supergiants and Gujarat Titans. There will be 12 double headers.
Reports also suggest that the stadiums will be allowed to have spectators up to 40% of total capacity. Fans are not being allowed during cricket matches in India due to strict COVID protocols.
There were no spectators in the limited overs home series against West Indies earlier this month and the matches against visiting Sri Lanka are also being played in front of empty stands.
If the COVID threat lowers further, more tickets may be sold towards later stages of the league.
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“The IPL will start on Saturday, March 26,” IPL chairman Brijesh Patel has told national news agency PTI.
The IPL Governing Council on Thursday has decided 70 of the 74 matches will be played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and Brabourne Stadium along with Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil ground and Gahunje Stadium in Pune. Wankhede and DY Patil will host 20 games each and Brabourne and Gahunje Stadium will equally split 30 matches between them.
Ahmedabad’s Narenda Modi Stadium can potentially host the play-offs. A final decision will be taken later.
Contrary to the reservation of some franchisees over Mumbai Indians playing at the Wankhede Stadium, it has reportedly been decided that each team will same number of matches.