Kolkata and Ahmedabad to host IPL 2022 playoffs

The much-anticipated venues for the IPL play-offs were finally announced. The games will be played in front of full-capacity crowds at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

Going by the latest directive of the BCCI, Eden Gardens will be playing host to Qualifier 1 on May 24th that will be followed by the eliminator on May 26th. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will be hosting the second qualifier on May 27th followed by the grand finale on the 29th. This will also be the first time in the last three years where the tournament will be played in front of a full house, after being compelled to be hosted behind closed doors or with limited capacity, keeping in mind the raging pandemic.

The tournament that is currently being played at Maharashtra, started with 25 percent capacity in the stadiums that has now been increased to 50 with a steady decline in the daily number of Covid cases. The four grounds that have been hosting the games at the moment entails the Brabourne, Dr. DY Patil and the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai while the fourth has been Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.

Both Kolkata and Ahmedabad played the perfect host to the shorter formats of the game between India and West Indies. Despite the series happening behind closed doors at Ahmedabad, Kolkata had allowed 75 percent spectators to witness the cricketing revelry between India and the Caribbean Islanders.

Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president said, “As far as the men's IPL knockout stage matches are concerned, it would be held in Kolkata and Ahmedabad, with 100% attendance allowed for the matches to be played after the league stage finishes on May 22.”

Ganguly also corroborated the fact that the three-team women’s tournament will be played from 24th to 28th May and it will be unfolding at Lucknow.