From outfield to stands, Holkar Stadium gets IPL-style elements for MPL

Indore: With the third edition of the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) set to begin on June 3, the city’s iconic Holkar Stadium is buzzing with activity as officials race against time to give the venue a grand makeover. For the first time since the league’s inception, the tournament will be hosted in Indore, and preparations are being carried out on a scale usually reserved for major national and international events.

The lush green outfield at Holkar Stadium has already been readied, while pitch preparations are in the final stage. Groundsmen have been working round the clock to ensure playing conditions remain consistent throughout the tournament, which will feature both men’s and women’s competitions.

The stadium premises have also undergone a visual transformation. Large posters of leading players from participating teams have been installed across the venue, giving it a festive look. Organisers are keen to create a professional league atmosphere and have introduced several IPL-style elements to enhance the spectator experience.

“Holkar Stadium is being completely transformed for the Madhya Pradesh League. Special roof lighting, hospitality lounges and other arrangements are being put in place to create an IPL-like atmosphere for spectators,” MPCA managing committee member involved in the league’s organisation Prasoon Kanmadikar said

Seating areas in the stadium are being cleaned and refurbished ahead of the opening match. Special attention is being paid to spectator facilities, including entry and exit points, security arrangements, drinking water facilities, washrooms and food kiosks. Online ticketing has also been introduced, allowing fans to enter the stadium through QR code scanning.

Officials expect strong attendance, particularly with several prominent Madhya Pradesh cricketers and IPL stars set to feature in the league. Matches at Holkar Stadium will be played in double-header format, with afternoon and evening games scheduled to maximize fan engagement.

Fans will be keenly watching Rajat Patidar, who led Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, along with Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Aniket Verma and all-rounder Madhav Tiwari. Large posters featuring star players from both the men’s and women’s competitions have been installed across Holkar Stadium, giving the venue the feel of a major cricketing event.

While the league will showcase several established names, a few players will miss either part or all of the tournament due to national commitments. Saransh Jain and Shivang Kumar will be unavailable for their teams’ opening matches after being called for the Indian Test team’s net sessions. In the women’s competition, fast bowler Kranti Goud will miss the tournament as she is part of India’s World Cup squad, while Anushka Sharma and Vaishnavi Sharma are expected to miss some matches because of their commitments with the Emerging India team.

Apart from Holkar Stadium, Daly College Ground will also host a number of matches during the tournament. In all, 40 matches will be played across the two venues, making it one of the biggest editions of the league so far.