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 ultimate
Breaking the silence on the controversy, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has lastly revealed the executive friction that led to this high-stakes relocation. In accordance with Saikia, the choice was not primarily based on infrastructure or logistics, however slightly a major 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. Chatting with ANI, Saikia clarified that each host affiliation is entitled to precisely 15% of the whole seating capability as complimentary tickets. This normal ensures a good steadiness 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 outdoors these boundaries. When the BCCI requested formal particulars forward of the summit conflict, the response from the state affiliation was nothing in need of stunning.
“We had been shocked after we acquired a response through electronic mail from the KSCA on Might 2nd. They acknowledged that, over and above the 15% quota, they might require a considerable further allocation for members and affiliated golf equipment,” Saikia acknowledged.
Probably the most jarring revelation concerned a particular 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 ultimate.
Additionally READ: Karnataka State Cricket Affiliation breaks silence on BCCI’s resolution to relocate IPL 2026 ultimate 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 the whole knockout section of the event. 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 shedding 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 ready for yet one more historic evening beneath the lights.
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