The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially clarified why the IPL 2026 final was moved from Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
According to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, the decision was taken after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) allegedly requested complimentary tickets far beyond the permitted quota.
The IPL 2026 final is scheduled to be played on May 31 in Ahmedabad, while Qualifier 1 will take place at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. The Eliminator and Qualifier 2 matches will be hosted in Mullanpur.
Bengaluru Lost Hosting Rights Despite Winning Previous IPL Season
Cricket fans were surprised when Bengaluru was not awarded hosting rights for the IPL 2026 final despite the city’s franchise winning the previous edition of the tournament. The playoff venues were officially announced on May 6, triggering widespread discussion among fans and cricket experts.
Speaking to ANI, Devajit Saikia explained that IPL hosting guidelines clearly define the number of complimentary tickets that can be allocated to host associations.
IPL Rules Permit Only 15 Percent Complimentary Tickets
According to the BCCI secretary, host state cricket associations are allowed to receive only 15 percent of the stadium’s seating capacity as complimentary tickets.
Saikia stated that the BCCI received information suggesting that the Karnataka State Cricket Association had been seeking a significantly higher number of complimentary tickets during IPL league matches, exceeding the approved limit.
To verify the matter, the BCCI reportedly sent an official communication requesting complete details regarding the ticket allocation demand.
KSCA Allegedly Requested Nearly 10,000 Additional Tickets
The BCCI secretary said the response received from KSCA on May 2 surprised officials. According to Saikia, the state association allegedly requested thousands of additional tickets beyond the approved quota.
The requests reportedly included complimentary tickets for KSCA members, affiliated clubs, local legislators, Members of the Legislative Council, and the Karnataka government.
Saikia claimed that, apart from the standard 15 percent allocation, KSCA sought nearly 10,000 additional tickets for various groups and officials, including around 700 complimentary tickets specifically for the Karnataka government.
IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule Confirmed
The IPL 2026 playoff matches will begin later this month. Qualifier 1 is scheduled for May 26, followed by the Eliminator on May 27. Qualifier 2 will be played on May 29, while the grand final will take place on May 31 in Ahmedabad.
The development has sparked debate among cricket fans over venue allocation policies and ticket distribution practices in the IPL.
