Following change in schedule, Mullanpur stadium in Mohali gets two IPL play-offs
The Mullanpur stadium, which has been hosting domestic matches, was first envisioned by former PCA and BCCI president I S Bindra in 2010.
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Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA New International Stadium will play host to IPL Qualifier 1 and Eliminator on May 29 and May 30 respectively. (Express photo by Kamleshwar Singh)
In a first, the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA New International Stadium at Mullanpur will play host to the first two play-off matches for this year’s IPL with Qualifier 1 to be played on May 29 followed by the Eliminator on May 30. Ahmedabad will host the Qualifier 2 on June 1 and the final on June 3.
The 38,000-capacity stadium will be hosting the knock-out matches of IPL in its second year of hosting matches of this tournament. Earlier as per the original schedule, Hyderabad was to play host for these two matches with Kolkata hosting the second qualifier and final, but the hostilities between India and Pakistan saw IPL being suspended for a week before resumption on May 17. As the BCCI announced the revised schedule for the play-off matches and final on Tuesday evening, PCA secretary Dilsher Khanna was coordinating with his team regarding the association’s responsibility.
“It’s a huge honour for Punjab Cricket Association that Mullanpur Stadium will play host to the first two play-offs including the Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator. It shows that the BCCI management has recognised our hard work and have entrusted us with the important task of hosting the play-offs matches,” said Khanna while speaking with The Indian Express.
The Mullanpur stadium, which has been hosting domestic matches, was first envisioned by former PCA and BCCI president I S Bindra in 2010. While the IS Bindra PCA International in Mohali was constructed in 1993 and hosted 14 Tests, 26 ODIs and seven T20Is including the semi-final of the 1996 World Cup, 2011 World Cup, and former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s 100th Test match in 2022, apart from hosting IPL matches from 2008 till 2023. The new stadium at Mullanpur started hosting IPL matches from 2024.
The 40-acre stadium sees new facilities like herringbone drainage system, a sand field, international-grade dressing rooms, steam, sauna, and ice bath facilities, and a world-class gym apart from 49 corporate boxes. The stadium hosted its first IPL match on March 23 in 2024 with Punjab Kings facing Delhi Capitals.
In total, the Mullanpur stadium has hosted nine IPL matches including four IPL matches this season. Gujarat Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings have already qualified for the play-offs with the fourth spot yet to be finalised along with the points table order of the qualifying four teams.
If Punjab Kings finish in the top two, the team will play in the Qualifier 1 including the top two teams on May 29 at Mullanpur and if the team finishes at the third or fourth spot, then the team will play in the Eliminator between the third and fourth placed team on May 30.
“PCA has always hosted important matches in tournaments like 1996 World Cup, 2011 World Cup and 2016 T20 World Cup and we are glad that IPL play-offs are now added to the list. As always, teams and fans will enjoy their time at Mullanpur stadium. We will start coordinating with the BCCI and the necessary meetings starting tomorrow,” added Khanna.
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