After Pune's Maharastra Cricket Stadium was named as the new home ground for Chennai Super Kings for the remainder of this season, Pune will miss out on the opportunity of hosting the playoff games which include the Eliminator and the second Qualifier. Kolkata has been selected as the new venue for these games as per the statement of a BCCI functionary. The matches will be played on May 23 and 25 respectively.

Earlier CSK lost out on Chennai's MA Chidambaram stadium after the franchise moved out of Chennai due to the Cauvery protests. Kolkata as it is as a history of hosting important matches in the past and nothing bigger than the two knockout games this season it has been selected to host. Eden Gardens boasting of a capacity in excess of 66,000— the biggest stadium in the country seating capacity wise —is another reason for the impending switch. The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune can accommodate a turnout of a little over 37,000.

Mumbai meanwhile will host the first qualifier and the Final on May 22 and 27 respectively. The IPL 2018 this season has already crossed the halfway mark. CSK, SRH, KXIP and KKR are in the top four of the points table while RR, RCB, DD and MI are fighting to pull themselves up on the points table. 

The contest is pretty much open for all the teams and it is up to the teams as to how they play in the second half of their campaign.