The cricketing world was despatched right into a frenzy this week following the Board of Management for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) sudden announcement concerning the IPL 2026 playoffs venues. Whereas the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was confirmed because the host for the grand finale on Might 31, the exclusion of Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the house of the defending champions, raised eyebrows throughout the globe.
Devajit Saikia clarifies why Ahmedabad was chosen over Bengaluru for the IPL 2026 last
Breaking the silence on the controversy, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has lastly revealed the executive friction that led to this high-stakes relocation. In response to Saikia, the choice was not based mostly on infrastructure or logistics, however fairly a big dispute over complimentary ticket allocations requested by the Karnataka State Cricket Affiliation (KSCA).
On the coronary heart of the relocation lies a strict IPL governing council protocol. Talking to ANI, Saikia clarified that each host affiliation is entitled to precisely 15% of the whole seating capability as complimentary tickets. This commonplace ensures a good stability between business ticket gross sales for followers and the wants of native stakeholders.
Nevertheless, investigations into the league stage matches held in Bengaluru instructed that the KSCA was allegedly working far exterior these boundaries. When the BCCI requested formal particulars forward of the summit conflict, the response from the state affiliation was nothing in need of surprising.
“We have been shocked after we acquired a response through e-mail from the KSCA on Might 2nd. They acknowledged that, over and above the 15% quota, they’d require a considerable further allocation for members and affiliated golf equipment,” Saikia acknowledged.
Probably the most jarring revelation concerned a selected request for 700 complimentary tickets for the Authorities of Karnataka, alongside devoted blocks for native MLAs and MLCs. In complete, the KSCA reportedly demanded roughly 10,000 further tickets past their authorized restrict, a transfer the BCCI deemed unsustainable for a high-revenue occasion just like the IPL last.
Additionally READ: Karnataka State Cricket Association breaks silence on BCCI’s decision to relocate IPL 2026 final to Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad secures the summit conflict as playoffs schedule confirmed
With the Bengaluru negotiations hitting a stalemate, the BCCI moved swiftly to award the ultimate to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Because the world’s largest cricket stadium, it presents the size and administrative compliance the board requires for the nineteenth version’s crowning second.
The relocation has reshaped your entire knockout part of the match. The IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule is now finalized as follows:
- Qualifier 1: Might 26 on the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala.
- Eliminator: Might 27 on the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur.
- Qualifier 2: Might 29 at Mullanpur.
- The Remaining: Might 31 on the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Whereas the KSCA has expressed deep disappointment over dropping the internet hosting rights, the BCCI’s stance stays agency. By prioritizing transparency and sticking to the 15% protocol, the board goals to ship a transparent message to all state associations concerning the business integrity of the league. For the followers in Bengaluru, it’s a bitter capsule to swallow, however for the town of Ahmedabad, the stage is about for one more historic night time below the lights.
Additionally READ: BCCI set to impose stricter rules and new regulations against ‘Girlfriend Culture’ in IPL 2026 – Reports
