Last Updated: May 6, 2026 05:17 PM
The Indian cricket board just made a controversial decision about playoff venues. The state association feels deeply disappointed by the sudden change announced. The defending champions’ home ground won’t host the biggest match after all.
BCCI Changes IPL 2026 Final Venue from Bengaluru
Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium was everyone’s hoped choice for the IPL 2026 final. RCB is the reigning champion playing their home matches there. Naturally, fans took the final would happen in Bengaluru this year.
But BCCI changed that wish by announcing Ahmedabad as the final venue. Narendra Modi Stadium will host the title match instead of Chinnaswamy. The board cited “operational and logistical reasons” for this venue change.
Qualifier 1 will happen at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala between the top two teams. The winner goes to the final from that match. Eliminator and Qualifier 2 both happen at New Chandigarh’s Mullanpur stadium.
That means three venues host the playoff matches this year. BCCI called this a “special case” without explaining the logic clearly. The league stage ends on May 24 with KKR vs DC.
KSCA’s Strong Disappointment Over the Decision
Karnataka State Cricket Association issued a formal statement telling their blow openly. KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad personally discussed playoff hosting with BCCI officials earlier. The association conveyed their preparedness, willingness, and keen interest repeatedly to everyone.
“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,” KSCA stated.
Bengaluru hosted IPL matches this season already with a good plan. Crowd control, operational efficiency, and spectator practice received widespread praise from attendees. KSCA has proved its skill in organizing major cricket events successfully.
Despite this track record, BCCI moved the final elsewhere without explanation. No specific reasons were formally communicated to KSCA about the change. The association respects BCCI’s decision-making authority but feels clearly disappointed by it.
Previous Season’s Playoff Venue Distribution
Last season used just two venues for all playoff matches comparatively. New Chandigarh hosted Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator matches back then. Ahmedabad got Qualifier 2 and the final last year too.
This year’s three venues mark a change from that pattern. Dharamshala enters as a playoff venue for the first time. Ahmedabad remains the consistent final venue for consecutive seasons now.
KSCA highlighted their successful IPL hosting throughout this season’s league stage. But that wasn’t enough to secure the final match ultimately. Bengaluru misses out despite being the defending champions’ home ground disappointingly.
