BENGALURU: The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which had been closed for 10 months following the June 2025 stampede, continues to face setbacks as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday shifted major IPL matches away from the city. The IPL 2026 final, originally scheduled for Bengaluru, will now be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. Additionally, the Eliminator and one Qualifier will take place at the New Chandigarh Stadium in Mullanpur, while the other Qualifier will be hosted by the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala.
Reasons Behind the Shift
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated in a media release, “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.” Sources indicate that a key factor was the demand from state legislators for approximately 900 complimentary passes per match. Combined with over 4,000 passes already committed to BCCI members and affiliates, this amounted to nearly 15 percent of the stadium’s 33,000-seat capacity, making allocation challenging.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar dismissed any direct link between the pass demands and the venue change, suggesting instead that the larger capacity of Ahmedabad’s stadium was the primary reason. “The Ahmedabad stadium can accommodate more people. The final may have been shifted with that intention,” he said.
KSCA’s Reaction
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) expressed disappointment but acknowledged the BCCI’s decision. KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya said, “Despite our 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.”
IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
- Qualifier 1: May 26 – Dharamshala
- Eliminator: May 27 – New Chandigarh
- Qualifier 2: May 29 – New Chandigarh
- Final: May 31 – Ahmedabad
The decision to move the final was not unexpected, as it typically shifts to the venue of the defending champions—in this case, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, the lack of compensation for Bengaluru with either Qualifier or Eliminator matches stands out. The BCCI’s move underscores ongoing logistical and administrative challenges at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has been under scrutiny since the stampede incident.
