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Ekana vs Mullanpur Pitch: Which Ground Suits Batting and Bowling?

Two very different grounds, one fair comparison: the completed IPL samples first, then a separate look at Mullanpur’s latest ODI.

Ekana vs Mullanpur pitch: Mullanpur has the higher IPL first-innings average in the completed samples—186.59 against Ekana’s 174.79. That difference is a record of past IPL games, not a guarantee that Mullanpur will bat better on the next match strip.

The recent India–West Indies ODI at Mullanpur featured a 352-run chase. It is a powerful example of one high-scoring match, but it belongs in a separate 50-over context. Here is what the T20 records and bowling evidence actually let us compare.

THE SHORT ANSWER

Mullanpur’s IPL sample has scored more in the first innings; both venues have also produced low totals and match-changing bowling. The format, strip and day’s conditions matter more than a permanent winner.

Ekana vs Mullanpur Pitch: Quick Comparison

The rows below use IPL fixtures listed through May 2026 at the exact respective grounds. The Ekana sample includes one no-result; the chase/defend counts describe decided games only.

Like-for-like IPL ground records, not international or ODI averages
IPL measureEkana · LucknowMullanpur · New Chandigarh
IPL fixtures listed29 (one no-result)17
Average score batting first174.79186.59
Wins batting first / chasing12 / 168 / 9
Highest IPL inningsKKR 235/6PBKS 254/7
Lowest IPL inningsLSG 108KKR 95
Highest successful IPL chasePBKS 200/3PBKS 223/4
Best IPL innings bowlingMark Wood 5/14Yuzvendra Chahal 4/28

Source and cutoff: Howstat’s IPL ground summaries, Ekana (GroundCode 294; last listed game 23 May 2026) and Mullanpur (GroundCode 329; 29 May 2026). Samples have different sizes and match conditions.

Batting Conditions: Ekana Pitch vs Mullanpur Pitch

Mullanpur’s IPL average is 11.80 runs higher across the grounds’ respective samples, and its 254/7 high exceeds Ekana’s 235/6. That supports a narrower statement—more runs per first innings in these IPL records—not an assumption that a batter will find every Mullanpur strip easier.

Batting interpretations within the IPL evidence
QuestionEkana Stadium pitchMullanpur Stadium pitch
Has a 200-plus IPL total happened?Yes; the record is 235/6.Yes; the record is 254/7.
Is every innings high scoring?No; the sample includes 108.No; the sample includes 95.
Can a chase succeed?16 decided IPL games won batting second.Nine decided IPL games won batting second.

A captain looking at Ekana vs Mullanpur batting conditions should examine the current strip and team selection, not apply a venue average as a par target. A high total at one venue does not automatically predict boundary ease in the next match.

Bowling Conditions: Ekana Pitch Spin or Pace vs Mullanpur Pitch Spin or Pace

Both grounds have produced notable bowling spells, but one spell does not establish which style every pitch will favour. Here is what the records actually show.

Bowling evidence: IPL records unless another format is explicitly named
Bowling questionEkana · LucknowMullanpur · New Chandigarh
Best listed IPL inningsMark Wood 5/14 · fast bowlingYuzvendra Chahal 4/28 · leg-spin
Evidence of pace helpingWood’s IPL 5/14 is one fast-bowling example; it is not a venue-wide pace rate.Early wickets in India’s December 2025 T20I show pace can be effective; this is not part of the IPL sample.
Evidence of spin or slower playThe stadium pitch overview notes black-soil strips may play slower, increasing the value of cutters and spin. The chosen match strip matters.Chahal’s IPL 4/28 shows spin can succeed; the dedicated pitch report does not verify a venue-wide seam-versus-spin share.
Reliable pace-versus-spin winner?Not established. Red- and black-soil options can differ by game.Not established. Isolated performances do not settle a permanent pitch preference.

The bowling figures are individual IPL innings, not comparable venue-wide wicket percentages. Check the prepared strip and match format before calling either ground spin- or pace-friendly.

The Mullanpur ODI: A High-Scoring Example, Not a T20 Average

The BCCI scorecard records India’s 351/7 and West Indies’ 352/5 in 48.2 overs at the New Chandigarh stadium on 3 October 2026. West Indies won by five wickets. The scores and Shai Hope’s 162 not out show batting was sustained on this particular ODI day; early Indian wickets also show it was not frictionless throughout.

The 3 October 2026 men’s ODI; not part of the IPL comparison
Match detailVerified result
Ground / formatMullanpur, men’s ODI
India / West Indies351/7 (50 overs) / 352/5 (48.2 overs)
OutcomeWest Indies won by five wickets
What it cannot proveA permanent Mullanpur ODI average or the result of an Ekana T20I

For updated ODI records after that first men’s fixture, see Mullanpur’s venue records. The separately dated Mullanpur pitch article above was published before this ODI; its older “no completed men’s ODI” statement applies only to its 2 October cutoff.

First Innings, Chasing and the Toss

IPL chasers won 16 of 28 decided games at Ekana and nine of 17 at Mullanpur. Both samples are close enough to resist a blanket “always bowl first” rule, especially with team strength, weather and dew changing from game to game. The single Mullanpur ODI chase is compelling match history, but it is not a 50-over toss trend.

PitchVaani Verdict: Which Pitch Is Better for Batters or Bowlers?

A verdict limited to the evidence, not a permanent pitch ranking
QuestionEvidence-led answer
Where did IPL first innings score more?Mullanpur in these unequal samples: 186.59 versus 174.79 at Ekana.
Is one ground always better for batting?No. Both IPL samples include low completed totals.
Which ground definitely helps spin?Not established. Isolated spells and unverified venue-wide bowling-style shares do not compare equivalent bowler opportunities at both venues.
Does the ODI prove a T20 result?No. It is a separate format and one match on one strip.

The useful Ekana vs Mullanpur pitch comparison is this: Mullanpur has the higher documented IPL first-innings average, while Ekana’s own results also span big and low totals. If the question is who will dominate the next fixture, check its format, selected pitch, weather and bowling attacks first.

Read the Dedicated Pitch and Venue Reports

This comparison targets the two-ground question rather than replacing a venue’s own pitch page. For single-ground detail, use the Ekana pitch report in the stadium overview, its format-specific Ekana records and the Mullanpur Stadium pitch report. The ODI update belongs in Mullanpur’s venue records.

PitchVaani Perspective

Read the averages, then read the pitch. Mullanpur’s higher IPL first-innings mean describes past matches, while the low innings at both grounds show that neither venue guarantees easy batting. Wood’s 5/14 and Chahal’s 4/28 show different bowlers have succeeded, not that one ground permanently belongs to pace or spin.

For the next match, PitchVaani would start with the format and prepared strip, then check the latest scorecard, bowling attacks and conditions. Treat the Mullanpur ODI as one separate 50-over example—not as an IPL average or a prediction for an Ekana fixture.

Ekana vs Mullanpur Pitch: FAQs

Is Mullanpur more batting-friendly than Ekana?

Its IPL first-innings mean is higher in the two completed samples through May 2026. That is a historical scoring comparison, not a verdict on every prepared pitch or on ODI cricket.

Does the Ekana pitch help spin or pace?

Both have produced wickets here. Conditions and strip preparation differ by match; Mark Wood’s 5/14 is one IPL example of pace success, not proof that every Ekana wicket favours quicks.

Can I use the Mullanpur ODI 352/5 chase to predict an Ekana T20I?

No. It is one ODI at another venue. It does show what happened on 3 October at Mullanpur, not a cross-ground forecast.

Method: The side-by-side numerical comparison uses Howstat’s IPL-only venue summaries, checked 5 October 2026. The men’s ODI box is sourced separately to the BCCI scorecard. Grounds, formats, dates, sample sizes and no-results are stated explicitly. No ODI score is included in an IPL average.

Jyoti Bhatia, founder and editor of PitchVaani
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jyoti Bhatia

Founder and editor of PitchVaani. She compares cricket grounds by match format, records and source cutoff rather than treating one match as a permanent pitch report.

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