Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Ahmedabad, 6 May: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the venues for the IPL 2026 playoffs and final, confirming that the summit clash will once again be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, instead of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home ground, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, despite Bengaluru being the defending champion’s city.

The Qualifier 1 will be held on 26 May in Dharamshala, followed by the Eliminator on 27 May and Qualifier 2 on 29 May in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur). The grand final is set for 31 May at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which also hosted the previous season’s final.

The IPL final is often staged at the home ground of the previous season’s champions. This time the BCCI has opted for Ahmedabad as the neutral and operationally convenient venue. The board stated in its official release that the decision was taken considering logistical arrangements and smooth conduct of the tournament.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the venues were finalised keeping in mind organisational efficiency and operational requirements for the high-profile matches.

The Punjab Kings, last season’s runners-up, will also benefit from hosting playoff matches in their home region, with both Dharamshala and New Chandigarh selected as venues for key knockout games.

Questions have been raised regarding why Bengaluru was not chosen to host the final. The BCCI clarified that the decision was influenced by local administrative and sports body-related concerns. According to the board, certain demands from the Karnataka State Cricket Association and local authorities were not in line with BCCI regulations, prompting the venue shift.

The official statement noted that while Bengaluru was initially considered for the final, complications arising from administrative conditions made it unfeasible to proceed with Chinnaswamy Stadium as the host venue.

Reports have also suggested that political tensions played a role in the decision. Allegations emerged involving demands from Karnataka legislators for additional VIP ticket allocations. Congress MLA Vijay Anand Kashappanavar had reportedly demanded five VIP tickets per legislator, which was opposed by the Karnataka State Cricket Association. This led to further disagreements between stakeholders.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar later stated that legislators would instead be allotted three tickets each, attempting to ease the controversy. However, the BCCI reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the overall situation, stating earlier that failure to resolve such issues could result in relocation of the final.

The controversy is not the first of its kind in IPL history. In the previous season, the final was initially scheduled to be held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata but was later shifted to Ahmedabad due to weather concerns and operational disruptions, including a temporary suspension of the league.

With Ahmedabad once again confirmed as the host, the Narendra Modi Stadium continues its emergence as the premier venue for high-profile cricket finals in India, reinforcing its status as one of the largest and most frequently used stadiums for major international and domestic events.