While the IPL governing council is busy to finalise the schedule for the upcoming edition, Gujarat’s Sardar Patel Stadium (Motera, Ahmedabad) is likely to host the final of IPL 2020.
Sardar Patel Stadium or Motera Stadium is currently under reconstruction since 2016. Before that renovation, the stadium last time hosted an international match on 6th November 2014 which was an ODI between India and Sri Lanka. This stadium also hosted eight games in IPL 2015.
After the renovation, Sardar Patel Stadium is likely to create history as it can provide the record number of sitting capacity in international cricket history. While the old sitting capacity of this stadium was around 53,000, the new Motera Stadium can provide the sitting capacity of about 1,10,000.
Initially, it was the plan that the stadium would be re-opened for cricket with a special T20I match between Asia XI and World XI in March 2020. But the stadium is not likely to be completed at that time. So, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dropped this plan.
However, it is almost certain that the Motera Stadium will host the final of IPL 2020. After the IPL Governing Council meeting on Monday (27th January), a source has confirmed to the IANS.
The source claimed to IANS, “You have to wait till February for the confirmation, but it is almost certain that the final of the 2020 edition of Indian Premier League will be played in Ahmedabad.”
Sardar Patel Stadium or Motera Stadium organised the first international match in November 1983 where India and West Indies played a Test match.
There on, the stadium has hosted 12 Tests, 23 ODIs and only T20I. It has also organised five matches in Cricket World Cup history, including one quarter-final between India and Australia during 2011 edition.
The IPL franchises have nothing to do with the knockout matches – BCCI official clarified about the hosting right of IPL 2020 final
There was a tradition in IPL where the defending champions’ home venues were initially awarded the hosting rights of IPL final. By this logic, Mumbai Indians’ home venue Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai) should win the hosting right of IPL 2020 final.
However, a BCCI official has clarified that the IPL final and other IPL knockouts are the property of the BCCI and there is no interest for the IPL franchises.
The official said according to IANS, “The knockouts are the property of the BCCI and the revenue earned through gate money is the board’s money. The IPL franchises have nothing to do with the knockout matches. The opening match is definitely to be played at the home ground of the previous year’s winner. But nothing of that sort with the final match.”
IPL 2020 will be the 13th edition of this tournament. The tournament is likely to run between 29th March and 24th May 2020.