In a major blow to Bengaluru's cricket fans, the BCCI announced yesterday that the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will not host the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final on May 31. The convention of defending champions – the RCB, in this case, as IPL 2025 winners – hosting the final would have seen Bengaluru as the venue for the title clash.
Following the BCCI's decision to move the IPL 2026 final from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) publicly voiced its "disappointment". Earlier, KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad had announced that Bengaluru was allocated seven matches, including five home games for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, one playoff match, and the final.
KSCA's official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya said, "KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad was in touch with the BCCI in this regard and had also formally conveyed KSCA's preparedness, willingness, and keen interest in hosting the IPL playoffs at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium."
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According to an IANS report, the BCCI decided to relocate the final after disagreements and organisational challenges involving local authorities and stakeholders in Bengaluru. Sources indicate that ongoing discussions between IPL officials and the KSCA hit a roadblock due to "excessive and unacceptable" demands, including requests for complimentary passes for members and politicians. There were concerns over alleged ticket black marketing activities, too.
The BCCI, in its official statement, said, “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.”
Following the tragic stampede during RCB's victory celebrations last year, in which 11 fans died, the KSCA, in collaboration with RCB and state government authorities, had implemented significant renovations and security enhancements at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Both the state government and the BCCI had reportedly expressed satisfaction with these measures. The five IPL matches previously held in Bengaluru this season were conducted smoothly, with marked improvements in security and crowd management.
"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," Mruthyunjaya said.
Despite the non-allocation of IPL playoff matches, international cricket is set to return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium later this year, with the venue scheduled to host the fifth T20I between India and the West Indies on October 17, and the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka on December 16.
