IPL 2022: Sourav Ganguly announces the locations for group stage matches

'Unless the COVID-19 hits the roof,' BCCI president Sourav Ganguly affirmed on Thursday (February 3) that the India Premier League (IPL) 2022 will be entirely hosted in India.

With two new clubs – Lucknow Super Giants and Ahmedabad – joining the fight, the IPL 2022 will include at least 74 league games, bringing the total number of teams in the T20 tournament to ten.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Sportstar, Ganguly disclosed that the league stage matches of the IPL 2022 will be held in Mumbai and Pune, with the venue for the knockout games to be determined later.

"It (IPL 2022) will be held in India this year, until and unless the COVID-19 hits the roof. So far, it has been decided that the IPL will be played in India. As far as venues are concerned, we are looking at hosting the matches in Maharashtra - Mumbai and Pune. We will then take a call on the venue for the knockout stages," Ganguly said.

In Mumbai, three stadiums are available: Wankhede, DY Patil, and the CCI, Brabourne. In addition, Pune has only one stadium.

With four venues, BCCI may host many games at the same time, which is necessary for league stages.

According to a report in the Times of India, the play-offs may be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The article also indicated that if the COVID-19 scenario remains the same, they want to allow at least a 25% capacity audience in the stadiums.

It's worth noting that the IPL 2022 will be a two-month affair, starting in the final week of March and running until the end of May, as stated by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah earlier this month.