Key takeaways
- Only 14 IPL matches by late April 2026 — a small sample that can change quickly.
- Batting first and chasing had won seven each; first innings averaged 178.
- A black-soil pitch with consistent bounce and a quick outfield; batting gets easier as the innings goes on.
- The ground also hosted IPL 2026 playoff games, including Gujarat's 215 chase against Rajasthan in Qualifier 2.
Mullanpur at a glance
| Full name | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, Punjab |
| IPL home team | Punjab Kings |
| First IPL season | 2024 |
| IPL matches (to late April 2026) | 14 |
| Won batting first / chasing | 7 / 7 |
| Average first-innings score | 178 |
| Highest / lowest total | 254 / 95 |
Is the Mullanpur pitch good for batting or bowling?
Batting, on the evidence so far. The black-soil pitch has consistent bounce and a quick outfield, the first innings averaged 178 and batting gets easier as the innings goes on. With only 14 IPL matches by late April 2026, though, the sample is small.
What the pitch is like
Mullanpur has quickly become one of the better batting surfaces in the country. The black-soil pitch has consistent bounce, the outfield is quick, and although the boundaries are relatively large, set batters score freely.
Bowlers' best chance is early: the new ball can offer some lateral movement in the first few overs, and spinners can find a little grip. After that, batting usually gets easier as the innings goes on — and 200-plus totals have been chased down comfortably.
The numbers
IPL figures at the venue (14 matches, as of late April 2026):
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average first-innings score | 178 |
| Wins batting first / chasing | 7 / 7 |
| Highest total | 254 |
| Lowest total | 95 |
Small sample. Fourteen matches is not many, and the average rose from 169 to 178 in the first month of the 2026 season alone. Check how the pitch played in the most recent games before you trust any long-term figure.
2026 playoffs. New Chandigarh also hosted IPL 2026 knockout games. In Qualifier 2, Rajasthan Royals made 214 and Gujarat Titans chased it down, with Shubman Gill scoring a hundred.
Toss and chasing
The results are evenly split, but captains who win the toss usually choose to chase, and evening dew helps the side batting second. For your team: lean slightly towards the chasing side's top order, especially in night games.
Pace or spin?
- New-ball seamers who can move the ball are the best bowling picks — the first few overs are when wickets are most likely.
- Spinners get some grip, which makes a balanced attack effective, but this is not a turning pitch.
- Large boundaries reward bowlers who bowl to their field and batters who run hard between the wickets.
Building a fantasy team for Mullanpur
- Top-order batters first — a normal total here is 180 or more.
- One or two powerplay seamers from each side.
- Captain a top-order batter, ideally from the side chasing.
- In mega contests, a new-ball bowler who takes early wickets is a less popular captain with a real chance of scoring big.
For a full routine, see pitch and conditions and captain and vice-captain.
PBKS at home
Punjab Kings moved their home games to Mullanpur from Mohali, and in 2026 they also played three home games in Dharamshala — so check the venue for each fixture.
PBKS's squad, core picks and recent form are in the PBKS fantasy guide.
Pre-match checklist
- Confirm the venue — Mullanpur or Dharamshala.
- Check how the pitch played in the most recent game here.
- After the toss, lean towards the chasing side's top order in night games.
- Pick the bowlers who will bowl in the powerplay.
Sources
- CricTracker, PBKS vs RR: IPL 2026 records and stats at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, April 2026 — venue figures and pitch notes.
- CricTracker, PBKS vs SRH: IPL 2026 records and stats at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, April 2026 — earlier figures and pitch notes.
- CricTracker, GT vs RCB final: IPL 2026 records and stats at Narendra Modi Stadium, May 2026 — Qualifier 2 result in New Chandigarh.