Till Dr DY Patil Sports Stadium (DYPS) in Navi Mumbai emerged as a world-class cricket facility, India hardly had any outstanding private cricket venue

Solace for DY Patil as Nerul ground gets IPL opener

Till Dr DY Patil Sports Stadium (DYPS) in Navi Mumbai emerged as a world-class cricket facility, India hardly had any outstanding private cricket venue.

After successfully hosting the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) final two years ago, the stadium in Navi Mumbai was rewarded with its first international match. But thanks to Cyclone Phyan, the ODI on November 11 was washed out without a ball being bowled.

After hostingu00a0 a thrilling IPL-1 final between Chennai Super Kings
(yellow jersey) and champions Rajasthan Royals on June 1, 2008,
the DY Patil Stadium will also host this year's opening game between
champions Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders on March 12
as IPL marks its return to India.

So, when IPL commissioner Lalit Modi announced yesterday the decision to shift the tournament opener of the third edition of IPL from Hyderabad to Navi Mumbai, it must have come as a solace for Vijay Patil, the head honcho of the stadium, and his team.

"It remains a Deccan Chargers vs Kolkata Knight Riders match but instead of Hyderabad, it would be held in Mumbai. The opening game, the opening ceremony and the opening gala dinner (on March 11) are very important for us. People from all over the world are coming and we are going to make sure that everything is in order. We don't want to take any chances," Modi said at a media conference yesterday.

Incidentally, Hyderabad has a security threat due to the Telangana dispute. But Modi said Hyderabad will host the rest of the matches.

"There are no changes to other matches, everything looks fine. We have worked it out with the franchises and decided that the match would be held in Mumbai," he said.

Meanwhile, IPL Chief Operation Officer Sundar Raman told Cricinfo.com that the venue was shifted on the request of Deccan Chargers.

"It requires a lot of time to prepare for the opening ceremony and associated preparations," said Raman. "The franchise (Deccan) felt it is best to have it in Mumbai for commercial and preparation reasons."
However, Deccan Chargers' Directoru00a0-- Operations, B Venkat Reddy, said it was the IPL's decision. "The match is shifted by IPL. Wherever they conduct matches, we'll go and play, no?" Reddy told MiD DAY.

Kotla to host IPL
Meanwhile, Modi confirmed Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla, which was suspended from hosting international cricket till the end of the year, will host Delhi Daredevils' home games.
"Delhi remains a venue for IPL," Modi said. "All preparations are being made. Practice games will start in the first week of February and we will ensure that the pitch is in right condition to play matches."