DY Patil Stadium to host IPL final?

The DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai is the front-runner for hosting the final of the Indian Premier League, Cricinfo has learnt.

Mumbai's remaining league games will be held at the Wankhede Stadium but there is a strong possibility of the final, and a semi-final, being held at DY Patil. The stadium's capacity (55,000) as well as the ease with which the authorities have been able to organise matches makes it the favourite to host the big games.

Hemant Waingankar, the joint secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), didn't rule out the option. "There is every possibility of DY Patil hosting the final but nothing is confirmed yet because we haven't heard from IPL and other franchises."

Abey Kuruvilla, the former Indian opening bowler who is now the sports in-charge at DY Patil, wasn't sure either - "We haven't got any intimation from any authorities" - but said it would be a privilege to showcase such an important match.

However, Sundar Raman, the CEO of the IPL, said it was upto the franchises to aid in the decision. "It's ultimately in the hands of the franchises," he told Cricinfo. "So we can't say anything until a decision is taken by them."

Originally the DY Patil stadium, which is in Nerul (about 40km from south Mumbai's business district), was scheduled to host Mumbai's five league games between April 27 and May 16. But the MCA told the DY Patil authorities that since Mumbai's next two games - against Chennai and Kolkata - take place on weekdays, it would be difficult for the fans to travel such a distance late in the evening after their office hours.

However, with the final being on a Sunday, the authorities might be tempted to offer the final to the DY Patil Stadium. Incidentally Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, has repeatedly raved about the stadium and even said he hoped it would stage the final.