Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Mullanpur averages 169 in the first innings across all IPL fixtures — but in 2026 evening games the number has repeatedly crossed 200, with both 219 and 222 set and chased here in a single season. With the ground hosting the IPL 2026 Eliminator (27 May) and Qualifier 2 (29 May), this is the complete pitch breakdown: surface construction, dew timing, last-5 results, toss data, and what it means for your fantasy picks in the knockouts.
Quick Verdict — Eliminator & Q2 Pitch
Mullanpur is a batting-friendly pitch that leans decisively towards batters once dew settles around the 12th over in evening fixtures. Average 1st innings: 169 (all IPL); 200+ now routine in IPL 2026 evening matches. Toss verdict: bowl first and chase — the chasing side has won the majority of recent evening games here. No total under 190 is safe.
हिन्दी: मुल्लांपुर की पिच बल्लेबाज़ी के लिए अच्छी है। आईपीएल में पहली पारी का औसत 169 है, लेकिन 2026 की शाम की मैचों में स्कोर अक्सर 200+ पहुँचा है। ओस की वजह से कप्तान पहले गेंदबाज़ी चुनते हैं — चेज़ करना आसान रहता है।
Pitch Surface & Behaviour
Sand first. That’s what makes Mullanpur different from almost every other IPL venue. The pitch sits on a sand-based foundation — not the clay-heavy surface typical of Indian grounds — and that construction produces consistent, true bounce from ball one. Batters trust the carry; the ball doesn’t jag unpredictably. Pacers exploit it during the powerplay, getting genuine carry that makes edges fly to the keeper or the cordon. New-ball seamers have used those first six overs productively here.
From over 7 onwards, the pitch becomes easier for batting. Evening matches under lights heavily favour batters because dew arrives during the second innings, making grip difficult for bowlers and speeding up the outfield. Once dew settles, chasing becomes significantly easier at Mullanpur — which is exactly the scenario both knockout sides will plan for.
📊 IPL 2026 Scoring Insight
Three of the four confirmed IPL 2026 evening fixtures at Mullanpur produced 1st-innings totals above 200. PBKS chased 220 in 18.5 overs against SRH on 11 April. Rajasthan Royals hunted down 222 against PBKS on 28 April. The chasing team won 3 of those 4 matches — and the lone batting-first win (PBKS over LSG by 54 runs) came with a margin big enough to absorb dew. In IPL 2026, no team has defended fewer than 190 here; anything under that should be treated as chaseable regardless of conditions, which shapes how you read the IPL 2026 points table NRR picture from these high-scoring games.
Last 5 IPL Matches at Mullanpur
| Date | Match | 1st Innings | Winner | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 2026 | PBKS vs RR | PBKS 222 | RR | Chase |
| 19 Apr 2026 | PBKS vs LSG | PBKS batted first | PBKS (by 54 runs) | Bat first |
| 11 Apr 2026 | PBKS vs SRH | SRH 219/6 | PBKS (by 6 wkts) | Chase |
| 31 Mar 2026 | PBKS vs GT | GT batted first | PBKS | Chase |
| May 2025 (Elim) | MI vs GT | MI 228/5 | MI (by 20 runs) | Bat first |
Toss Decision: Bowl First or Bat First?
Bowl First (Evening Games)
- Dew arrives by over 12, making the ball slippery for bowlers and the outfield faster for chasers.
- 3 of the last 4 evening fixtures here were won by the chasing team.
- Toss winners opted to bowl first in 4 of the last 5 IPL matches at this ground.
- Spinners lose effectiveness in the second innings — pace-heavy chasing line-ups gain a structural edge.
Bat First (Afternoon / Dry Day)
- No dew = consistent conditions across 40 overs; off-cutters and slower balls work in the middle phase.
- The ball deteriorates naturally, so spinners threaten from over 12 onward.
- PBKS’s 54-run win over LSG proves a total above 200 still wins matches here.
- Playoff pressure can disrupt a chasing side’s run-rate management — batting first removes that calculation.
💧 Dew Factor at Mullanpur
New Chandigarh sits at roughly 310 metres above sea level — low enough that evening dew is guaranteed from March through May. By the 12th over of the second innings, outfield dew is visible to fielders. The ball becomes noticeably slippery, wrist-spinners can’t grip, and the fast outfield sends dew-dampened boundaries even quicker. For both knockouts, treat power-hitters in the chasing side as your primary captain candidates — death-over hitting with dew on the ball at a flat, fast outfield is about as good as T20 batting conditions get.
Of the three IPL 2026 playoff venues, Mullanpur hands the toss winner the biggest tactical advantage. The surface stays true all night, so there’s no mystery in the pitch — the variable is dew, and dew is predictable here. That makes the toss almost a coin-flip for a free advantage, which is a strange thing to say about a knockout but true at this ground.
My read for the 27 May Eliminator and 29 May Qualifier 2: the chasing team wins roughly 65% of the time in evening conditions. That’s a meaningful edge. The team that qualifies with fewer wins may actually fancy their chances here if they win the toss — at Mullanpur, toss-plus-dew is a bigger leveller than form. Compared to Wankhede, where the pitch keeps bowlers interested all night, this ground is far more of a batter’s paradise once the lights are on. Build your fantasy team around chasing-side hitters and pace bowlers.
Mullanpur Pitch Report — FAQs
Is the Mullanpur pitch good for batting or bowling?
Mullanpur is mainly batting-friendly, especially in evening IPL matches. Pacers get some help early, but the surface becomes easier for batting after the powerplay, and dew in the second innings further helps chasing teams.
What is the average first-innings score at Mullanpur in IPL?
The average first-innings IPL score at Mullanpur is around 169. However, recent evening matches have regularly crossed 200, making anything below 175 slightly under par in current conditions.
Does dew affect evening matches at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium?
Yes, significantly. New Chandigarh’s climate means outfield dew is virtually guaranteed in evening matches from March through May. It typically settles by the 12th over of the second innings, making the ball slippery for bowlers and the outfield faster for chasing batters — the main reason toss winners elect to bowl first here.
Which IPL 2026 playoff matches are at Mullanpur?
Mullanpur hosts the IPL 2026 Eliminator on 27 May and Qualifier 2 on 29 May — both evening fixtures. The venue also hosted the IPL 2025 Eliminator (MI vs GT), where MI posted 228/5 and won by 20 runs, the highest total ever set at this ground.
Bottom Line
Mullanpur is a true-bounce, batting-friendly venue where the toss in an evening fixture carries real weight. With the chasing team winning the majority of recent IPL games here — and 220+ targets now a realistic benchmark in 2026 — plan your playoff XI accordingly: back power-hitters who bat from ball one, use pace over spin at the death, and don’t expect any total below 190 to hold. Build your knockout teams with our RR vs SRH Eliminator Dream11 prediction, and compare the other playoff venues via the Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report for the final and the HPCA Dharamshala pitch report for Qualifier 1.
