The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to hand the hosting rights of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) final to Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has sparked a major controversy, with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) making its displeasure over the decision public as Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium missed out.
For those unversed as per tradition, the home venue of the defending champions hosts the final. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the title in 2025, Bengaluru should have have been the venue for the final.
The KSCA claimed that president and former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad was personally in touch with the BCCI and had informed the Indian cricket governing body over the venue's readiness to host the summit clash .
"At the outset, KSCA expresses its disappointment that the IPL Playoff matches have been allotted to other centres. KSCA President and legendary Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad was personally in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in this regard and had also formally conveyed KSCA's preparedness, willingness, and keen interest in hosting the IPL Playoffs at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium," said a statement by the KSCA.
"The IPL matches conducted in Bengaluru during the current season were widely appreciated for their smooth execution, crowd management, operational efficiency, and overall spectator experience, reaffirming KSCA's capability to successfully host marquee fixtures of such scale and importance.
"Despite our preparedness and willingness to host the Playoffs, we understand that the BCCI has taken a decision to allot these matches to other venues. While the specific reasons for the same have not been formally communicated to KSCA, we fully respect the prerogative and decision-making authority of the BCCI in this regard," the Karnataka Cricket governing body stated.
BCCI issued a statement and justified the decision to not host the final in Bengaluru, claiming that there were requirements from local authorities that fell outside the BCCI's protocols.
"Owing to certain operational and logistical considerations, the TATA IPL 2026 Playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special case. Bengaluru was originally designated to host the Final. However, owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI's established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and reassigned," said the statement issued by the IPL governing council.
The Indian cricket governing body was referring to the recent controversy over demand for tickets from MLAs in Karnataka. The KSCA had settled the issue by giving three tickets each to all MLAs.
Meanwhile, the first qualifier will take place at the HPCA International Cricket Stadium in Dharamshala on May 26. Meanwhile, the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh will host the eliminator and second qualifier on May 27 and 29, respectively. The venue has retained the right to host two playoff games, as Punjab Kings (PBKS) had finished runners-up last year.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
