Pitches ready to outplay rain, wear & tear for 23-day MPL marathon

Indore: As the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) gets underway on Wednesday, the spotlight will be on the players, but an equally important contest will unfold behind the scenes. With more than 40 matches scheduled over a demanding 23-day period, groundsmen at Holkar Stadium and Daly College are preparing for a rigorous test of pitch and ground management.To ensure consistent playing conditions throughout the tournament, the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) has prepared four match pitches at Holkar Stadium and three at Daly College. All seven surfaces have been developed using a mix of red and black soil, a combination expected to produce batting-friendly wickets and high-scoring encounters.“T20 cricket is an entertainment format and spectators enjoy seeing runs. The pitches at both venues have been specially prepared to assist batters, while maintaining balance in the game,” MPCA chief pitch curator Manohar Jamle told TOI.With pre-monsoon showers forecast during the opening fortnight and the monsoon expected to reach Indore after mid-June, weather remains a key concern. Ground staff will closely monitor forecasts from multiple sources and have already put contingency plan in place. Full ground covers have been arranged at both venues, while nearly 170 ground staff members have been deployed for the tournament.The heavy match load has also necessitated a pitch rotation strategy. With 15 men’s and women’s teams competing from June 3 to June 26, curators plan to rotate surfaces regularly to prevent excessive wear and tear.“As the number of matches is high, we need to provide adequate rest to the pitches. After every couple of matches, we will shift to another strip so that all surfaces remain in good condition until the final stages of the tournament,” Jamle said.Apart from pitch preparation, the ground staff will focus on maintaining optimum moisture levels and ensuring regeneration of grass in the outfield.On Tuesday, MPCA president Mahanaaryaman Scindia reviewed preparations for the MPL. He inspected arrangements and held meetings with franchise owners, captains and managers, stressing the importance of making the league a success. Scindia also met officials from the BCCI and the Anti-Corruption Unit to review operational and integrity-related preparations ahead of the tournament.IPL winners set for MPL action, Venkatesh & Mangesh reach IndoreFresh from Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title-winning campaign, Venkatesh Iyer and Mangesh Yadav have returned to Indore and are expected to join their respective Madhya Pradesh League teams. Venkatesh who hails from Indore is likely to link up with Indore Pink Panthers ahead of their opening match against Bhopal Leopards on June 4. Mangesh is expected to be available for Gwalior Cheetahs in the tournament opener against Ujjain Falcons on Wednesday. However, the participation of RCB captain Rajat Patidar remains uncertain, with sources indicating he could miss Gwalior’s first match following extended post-title celebrations.