Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
Home Franchise: Punjab Kings (PBKS)
At a Glance: Key Facts
| Location | New Chandigarh (Mullanpur), Punjab |
| Capacity | ~34,000 |
| Established | 2024 (IPL 2026 is among its first major seasons) |
| Home Franchise | Punjab Kings (4 home matches, IPL 2026) |
| Surface | Black Loam | Batting-friendly, consistent bounce |
| Pitch Type | High-scoring expected | Similar to Mohali profile |
| Avg 1st-Innings Score (Expected) | 175–195 (based on early evidence) |
| Dew Level | Moderate — less than coastal venues |
| First Major International Match | India vs South Africa T20I, December 2025 |
| Stadium Design | Compact rising tiers — fortress atmosphere for home team |
The Ground: Punjab’s Cricket Gets a New Home
For 15 of their 17 IPL seasons, Punjab Kings played at IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali — an intimate, beloved ground with one of the best natural cricket pitches in northern India. The move to the brand-new Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) for IPL 2026 is therefore a significant transition: a franchise saying goodbye to a stadium that became part of its identity, and hello to a purpose-built arena that promises better infrastructure, a larger capacity (34,000 versus Mohali’s 26,000), and a fortress-like design intended to maximise home advantage.
The stadium’s name honours the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala — a patron of Punjab cricket who made significant contributions to the sport in the region during the 20th century. The naming is a deliberate act of regional pride, connecting a modern facility to Punjab’s deep cricketing heritage. For the fans who make the journey from Chandigarh, Mohali, and the surrounding Punjab districts to watch PBKS play here for the first time, IPL 2026 is genuinely a historic occasion.
Pitch Report: Early Evidence from a New Ground
Mullanpur is new enough that comprehensive IPL-specific pitch data does not yet exist. The ground hosted its first major international match — India versus South Africa T20I in December 2025 — and has hosted domestic cricket in its pre-IPL period. From this limited sample, the emerging picture is of a black loam surface that favours batters.
The pitch offers consistent bounce and a pace-friendly character that rewards positive batting. Seam bowlers can find assistance in the powerplay, particularly in morning and afternoon conditions when the ball is hard and new, and the Punjab climate (cooler than most IPL venues during April–May) keeps the pitch harder and bouncier for longer than tropical venues. Spinners have less influence here than at Chepauk or Kotla, though they become more relevant as the innings progresses and the surface dries.
The stadium’s compact design — with sharply rising tiers on all sides — creates an unusual acoustic environment where crowd noise is amplified and directed towards the playing surface. For PBKS playing in front of their own supporters, this should translate into genuine home advantage in close matches.
From Mohali to Mullanpur: What Changes Tactically
IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali was one of the IPL’s best pace-bowling venues — a pitch that consistently offered seam movement, good carry, and competitive scoring around the 165–185 range. The Mullanpur pitch appears to be in a similar profile based on early evidence, which makes sense given the proximity (approximately 10km apart) and similar climatic conditions.
The key differences are likely to be atmospheric rather than cricketing. Mohali had two decades of IPL atmosphere built into its fabric — the crowd knew when to roar, the players knew the ground’s idiosyncrasies, and both home and away teams had years of match data to draw on. Mullanpur must earn that knowledge base through experience. In IPL 2026, PBKS and their opponents are essentially playing on a ground where limited historical data exists — which adds an element of genuine tactical uncertainty that does not apply at the established venues.
Punjab’s dry spring climate (April–May) means minimal dew impact compared to Kolkata, Mumbai, or Chennai — less pronounced than at coastal or riverside venues. This makes batting first a more viable option here than at the dew-heavy grounds, and PBKS under Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting have shown a preference for setting targets and defending them.
Expected Scoring Data at Mullanpur
| Metric | Value / Estimate |
| Expected avg 1st-innings score | 175–195 (based on Mohali profile + early evidence) |
| Par score at 10 overs | ~87–95 |
| Score considered ‘competitive’ | 180+ |
| Surface character | Batting-friendly | Pace with seam in powerplay |
| Dew level | Moderate (less than coastal venues) |
| First major T20I | India vs South Africa, December 2025 |
| IPL data available | Extremely limited — 2026 will build the database |
PBKS Squad and Their Fit for Mullanpur
- Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm swing in Mullanpur’s powerplay conditions — with harder, bouncier surface — should produce movement and wickets from ball one
- Marco Jansen’s steep bounce and swing from a tall left-armer is ideally suited to a pace-friendly northern Indian pitch
- Lockie Ferguson’s express pace (145+ kph) gets maximum value on a surface that offers carry and bounce rather than slow variation-friendly conditions
- Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg-spin becomes relevant in the middle overs as the surface dries — a wicket-taking option at a venue that doesn’t heavily assist spin early
- Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis are the batting cornerstones — both technically equipped for surfaces that offer seam movement and require judgment against the swinging ball
IPL 2026 Preview: Building a New Fortress
PBKS arrive at their new home as 2025 runners-up — having topped the league table and reached the final for the first time in 11 years under Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer. The squad retained 21 players — the maximum of any franchise — providing a level of continuity that should smooth the transition to a new venue.
The IPL 2026 season at Mullanpur will be about building identity as much as winning matches. The fans are there — Punjab’s cricket-mad population has been waiting for a team worth following, and the 2025 runners-up finish gave them one. The stadium’s capacity of 34,000 needs to be filled with the same noise and intensity that made Mohali’s 26,000 feel like more. That transition from beloved historic ground to ambitious new venue is as much a psychological process for the fanbase as it is a logistical one for the franchise.
PBKS’s target is clear: IPL 2026 is the year to convert runners-up into champions. Mullanpur, their new fortress, is where that journey begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Punjab Kings move from Mohali to Mullanpur?
Punjab Kings moved from IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali to the new Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur for IPL 2026. The new venue offers improved infrastructure, a larger capacity (34,000 vs 26,000), and a purpose-built modern arena.
Q: What is the average score at Mullanpur stadium?
The stadium is new with limited T20 data. Based on early matches and the pitch profile’s similarity to Mohali, average first-innings scores are expected in the 175–195 range.
Q: How many IPL matches will PBKS play at Mullanpur in 2026?
Punjab Kings will play 4 of their 7 home matches at Mullanpur in IPL 2026. The remaining 3 matches are at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala.