IPL 2016: Mumbai Indians to play ‘home’ matches in Jaipur

Mumbai Indians are set to play three of their rescheduled games in Jaipur, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said on Sunday.

Mumbai Indians are set to play three of their rescheduled games in Jaipur, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said on Sunday.

Mumbai Indians team player Martin Guptill during a practice session ahead of their IPL match. (PTI Photo)

“We had given them three options --- Jaipur, Kanpur and Raipur --- and the franchise has asked for Jaipur to be their venue,” said Shukla.

The defending champions will play three games at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium. “IPL and IMG officials will be going to Rajasthan on Monday to speak to the state government,” said Shukla.

The Bombay High Court had ordered the league organisers to shift all home games of Mumbai and Pune Supergiants outside the drought-hit Maharashtra after April 30.

Mumbai has already played two games at the Wankhede stadium. They will play two more games at the same venue --- April 20 and 28 --- before shifting to Jaipur.

Earlier, Jaipur used to be the home ground of the now-suspended Rajasthan Royals. Shukla clarified that the Rajasthan Cricket Association, which is under suspension, will not play a part in the organisation the matches.

“The stadium is owned by the state government and not by the association. And, in any case, the association is suspended, not the venue,” added Shukla.

On Thursday, Pune had agreed to hold their home games in Visakhapatnam.

The shift was needed after a PIL was filed in court asking for shifting IPL matches out the state. The court has given the organisers till April 30 to move the games.