The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2022) tournament will see an increased attendance of spectators in the four stadiums across Maharashtra as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to allow 50% attendance. Currently, only 25% of crowd capacity is being allowed inside the stadiums. The IPL 2022 has returned back home after the IPL 2020 edition was fully played in the UAE due to the COVID pandemic, the second wave of COVID made BCCI pause the tournament which was revived in UAE in October-November in the desert nation.
While the BCCI had announced that the IPL 2022 edition will be played in India itself, which was special as two new teams Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans were added to the mix, increasing the total number of teams to 10. To keep the travel minimal, and avoid any travel by air, BCCI decided to host the league stage of IPL 2022 with all 70 matches do be played in four stadiums in Maharashtra. Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, and MHCA Stadium in Gahunje, Pune were chosen as the venue.
While Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium hosted 20 matches each, the Brabourne Stadium and MHCA stadium are set to host 15 matches each, the venue for the playoffs will be decided later. The development comes hours after the state government has lifted all the COVID-19 curbs starting April 1. Sources in the BCCI and MCA confirmed that a revised notification from the state government has been issued and the capacity at all the four venues will be doubled starting with Rajasthan Royals’ clash versus Royal Challengers Bangalore at Wankhede Stadium on April 5th.