Cricket fever catches up in Dharamsala as teams arrive for May 4 IPL match

Excitement is in the air in the hill town of Dharamsala as the Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants gear up for a high-stakes IPL clash at the picturesque HPCA Cricket Stadium here on May 4. Both teams arrived here today and will begin their preparations with evening practice sessions on May 2 and 3 between 6 pm and 9 pm.

The match is crucial for both the teams, currently placed fifth and sixth, respectively, on the IPL points table. With playoff qualification hanging in the balance, the encounter promises to be thrilling.

Punjab Kings, coached by Ricky Ponting and led by in-form Shreyas Iyer, arrived at Gaggal Airport alongside the Lucknow Super Giants players, who are being coached by Zaheer Khan. Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant has already arrived in the town, having landed on April 29. Several foreign players from the Lucknow camp arrived a day earlier and have been spotted enjoying the scenic Dhauladhar ranges.

To ensure a smooth and safe experience for fans and players, the district administration has put comprehensive arrangements which include multiple checkpoints, designated parking zones and shuttle bus services to manage crowds and traffic flow. The use of drones in the vicinity of the stadium has been prohibited for security reasons. Authorities have suspended paragliding activities on the days of the match.

HPCA general secretary Avnish Parmar stated that both the teams have been accommodated at the HPCA’s hotel Radisson Blu. The match, scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm on Saturday, is expected to be played in front of a packed stadium, with fans hoping for engrossing performances from their teams.

The enthusiasm is palpable among the cricket lovers who have started moving around the stadium in large numbers. Many are leaving disheartened as the stadium is now closed for security reasons. A lot of activity is going on in the town ahead of the eagerly awaited cricket bonanza. The IPL matches have also brought cheers on the faces of the hoteliers, who are getting bookings in advance.

Himachal Tribune