The first qualifier match of IPL 2024 will be played tonight at 7:30 pm at PCA Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium, Mullanpur. In this high-voltage match, the teams of Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore will face each other.
The winning team will directly qualify for the final, while the losing team will have to face the winner of the eliminator in Qualifier-2. There is tremendous enthusiasm among the fans about this IPL match. Cricket lovers from all over the country have flocked to the ‘City Beautiful’.
Surinder Paul, Director of Meteorological Department in Chandigarh, has predicted that there will be strong winds along with rain on 29 and 30 May. Its effect will be visible in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana.
Kohli arrived by different plane
The Punjab Kings team practiced at the Mullanpur Stadium on Wednesday evening, where the batsmen and bowlers sweated it out under the floodlights. At the same time, the Royal Challengers Bangalore team reached the city on Wednesday night itself, due to which they did not get a chance to practice. Team’s star batsman Virat Kohli reached the airport directly with wife Anushka Sharma by private plane, from where he left for a private hotel.
So far in IPL history, 35 matches have been played between Punjab and Bangalore. Out of these, Punjab has won 18 times and Bangalore 17 times. It is clear from this that the matches between the two teams are always tough.
29-30 May declared ‘no flying zone’
District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal has declared Maharaja Yadavindra Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur and its surrounding area as no-flying and no-drone zone. The order said that there will be a complete ban on the operation of any type of drone or other flying equipment from 29 May to 30 May 2025.
Gujarat and Mumbai teams also ready in the field
The eliminator match will be played between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians on 30 May. For this, both the teams have also finalized their preparations.
Gujarat Titans practiced at IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali. In the practice session which started at 6 pm on Wednesday, the players did running and warm-up under the leadership of captain Shubman Gill. Coach Ashish Nehra monitored the entire practice. Mohammad Siraj and Rashid Khan bowled fiercely in the nets, while Shubman Gill practiced batting against local bowlers.
The Mumbai Indians team reached Mullanpur at 2 pm on Wednesday, but Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were not seen in the practice. The rest of the players practiced for about three hours in the nets and on the field. The players focused on catching, batting and bowling.
The Deputy Commissioner reviewed the preparations for the matches
Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal reviewed the security and administrative preparations in a high-level meeting regarding the IPL matches to be held on 29 and 30 May at Maharaja Raja Yadavindra Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
The police department gave detailed information about the security arrangements in the meeting. The DC directed that law and order and traffic should be completely controlled during the matches. Instructions were given to every department including parking, guidance, medical team, food checking, fire brigade to remain alert. He said that the spectators should not face any problem in movement and every facility should be available in the stadium.
ADC (J) Geetika Singh, AC Dr. Ankita Kansal, SDM Kharar Divya P, senior officers of civil and police administration were present in the meeting.
