A four-member delegation of Kings XI Punjab team inspects Barabati Stadium ahead of IPL Season 7 matches. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 5: Cricket fans from across the state are ecstatic with Barabati Stadium being selected as the home ground of Kings XI Punjab in the seventh edition of the India Premier League (IPL) this year.

A four-member delegation of Kings XI took stock of the infrastructure during a visit to the stadium today.

“We had come for an inspection and the ground and the infrastructure here look good. We have also received good support from officials of the Odisha Cricket Association,” said Kings XI general manager (operations) Anant Sarkaria.

Sources said the delegation had made a thorough assessment of the facilities and also asked for certain changes inside the stadium.

“This was our first visit, and our branding and other officials will come here again shortly for making the necessary changes, according to our requirement. We will have a detailed discussion in this regard with the state association,” Sarkaria said.

The team will play two matches against Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders here on May 7 and 11, respectively.

Both the matches are expected to draw large crowds from across the state because a Twenty20 match would be played here after a gap of two years in Cuttack.

Earlier, Barabati had been the home ground of the Deccan Chargers team since 2009.

While the last Twenty20 match was played here in 2012, the One-Day international match, scheduled to be played here between India and Australia, was washed out in 2013.

Odisha Cricket Association treasurer Satya Mohanty said adequate steps would be taken to host the two Twenty20 matches in the IPL successfully at the stadium.

An agreement with Kings XI Punjab would be signed shortly and sources said the Odisha Cricket Association would be entitled to get Rs 60 lakh (Rs 30 lakh a match) for the two matches to be played at the stadium that has a seating capacity of 45,000.

The stadium also has special provision for 650 persons inside the VIP enclosures and 1,500 spectators can also be accommodated in the 26 corporate boxes.

“We are happy that the IPL has returned to Odisha and looking forward to the matches,” said Prakash Singh, a cricket enthusiast.