Reports: IPL franchises express concern over Mumbai Indians playing matches at home

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) is slated to start from last week of March in India. Since 2019, this will the first time that a complete edition of IPL will be played in the country.

Due to Covid-19 threat, the board has reportedly decided to conduct majority of the league stage matches in Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai and remaining in Pune. As a result, other franchises have raised their voice with BCCI over Mumbai Indians playing their matches at home.

In last season of the tournament, there was no home advantage for any team as the franchises played group stage matches at neutral venues before the tournament was halted due to Covid-19 outbreak in several camps. However, the situation is little different as compared to last year’s tournament.

According to Cricbuzz, these three venues will host a total of 55 matches whereas Pune is set to host 15 matches in 2022 IPL. All ten franchises will be playing three games each in Brabourne Stadium and Pune while Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil stadium will host a team four times each.  As a result, Mumbai Indians will be the only franchise in this season to play a total of four home matches giving them a slight advantage.

IPL franchises raised their concern with BCCI

Reportedly, the franchises do not have any issue with Mumbai Indians playing their contest at any other ground apart from Wankhede Stadium. However, the BCCI is yet to announce final fixtures for the tournament and it will be interesting to see that if five-time champions are allotted home matches or not.

“None of the other teams are getting home matches. It will be unfair if MI play a lot of their matches at Wankhede, which has been their den for years. The franchises have raised this concern. The franchises don’t have an issue with Mumbai Indians play bulk of their matches at DY Patil stadium and in Pune. Even the Brabourne stadium is fine. Hopefully, the BCCI will look into the matter,” a franchise source was quoted as saying by TOI.