IPL 2022: Maharashtra government likely to allow 25 percent of spectators

In what can be called a major development, Maharashtra is likely to allow 25 percent capacity crowd for the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 15th edition of the gala competition gets underway on March 26 – with all matches taking across Mumbai and Pune. Amid the COVID-19 concerns, it was speculated that the matches might take place behind closed doors.

However, it has been learned that Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and Maharashtra Cricket Association (MHCA) are ready to welcome a certain amount of spectators at the venue. Notably, Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium, and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai will combinedly host a total of 55 league-stage games in the competition. The remaining 15 games will take place at the MCA International Stadium in Pune. Venues for playoff matches are yet to be decided.

IPL 2022 matches to take place across Mumbai and Pune

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray, on Sunday (February 27), met MCA officials and agreed to allow 25 percent of crowds at the venues. Notably, there has been a steep decline in COVID cases lately – only two deaths reported in Mumbai in the last 24 hours and less than 1000 new cases, lowest since 2020. Encouraged by the same, the government allowed crowd entrance.

“Yes, we have come a full circle,” BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. “It has set a new template for Indian cricket. There is no looking back,” he added. Notably, various stadiums across India welcomed specators in recent white-ball series against West Indies and Sri Lanka.

“It was in Dharamsala where the Covid threat to Indian cricket started in 2020. It halted the game there. Subsequently the matches in Lucknow and Kolkata also got called off due to the Coronavirus threat. We are glad that cricket with crowds got revived from Dharamsala itself (referring to India’s last two T20Is against Sri Lanka). It was great to see the enthusiasm of the crowds for both the games. I hope there is no stopping Indian cricket from here,” the BCCI treasurer further said.