IPL Playoffs Venue Update: Mullanpur Likely to Host Matches Amid Rain Disruptions

The IPL playoffs are facing venue uncertainties as Mullanpur emerges as a potential host for the matches. With Kolkata's Eden Gardens and Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi Stadium losing hosting rights, weather conditions have played a significant role in these changes. Additionally, the upcoming match between RCB and SRH has been relocated to Lucknow due to heavy rainfall in Bengaluru. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving situation.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 20, 2025, 18:28 IST

IPL Playoffs Venue Uncertainty

Since the Indian Premier League (IPL) resumed, the locations for the three playoff games and the final have not been disclosed. While many speculated that the Narendra Modi Stadium would be the preferred site for the final instead of Kolkata's Eden Gardens, the playoff venues remain unclear.

According to a recent report from a sports news outlet, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may designate Mullanpur as the host for the playoff matches. The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Punjab, home to the Punjab Kings, has already held five matches this season before the tournament was paused.

Changes in Hosting Arrangements

Initially, Kolkata was set to host both the final and one of the qualifier matches, while the eliminator and the other qualifier were planned for Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. The reasons behind Hyderabad losing its hosting rights remain unclear, but it is speculated that potential rainfall may have influenced Kolkata's situation as well.

Match Relocation Due to Weather

On May 17, the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru was called off due to persistent rain. Consequently, the upcoming match between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad has been moved to the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Originally scheduled for May 23, this match has now been postponed to May 27.

Currently, Bengaluru is under a yellow alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), as the city has experienced its highest rainfall of the year, leading to flooding in several areas.

Official IPL Statement

In light of the weather conditions, the IPL released an official statement, noting:

"The TATA IPL Match No. 65 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has been relocated to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, due to unfavourable weather conditions in Bengaluru."

The statement further added,

"Similar to the playoffs stage, an additional one hour will be allocated to the playing conditions for the remaining matches of the league stage, starting Tuesday, 20 May."

SRH, who were already in the city after their May 19 match against LSG, concluded their season with a notable victory but did not qualify for the playoffs. Meanwhile, RCB is striving for a top-two finish after securing a playoff position, aided by GT's victory over DC.