The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has voiced disappointment after being left out of the hosting shortlist for the IPL 2026 playoffs and final, while questions continue around how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is allocating venues. In a formal statement issued on Wednesday, May 6, the KSCA said it had already flagged its “preparedness, willingness, and keen interest” to stage the playoff games at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, with KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad personally taking up the matter with the BCCI.
KSCA clarification on Bengaluru’s IPL 2026 playoff and final hopes
- KSCA began by expressing its disappointment that the playoff matches were assigned to other locations rather than Bengaluru.
- The association pointed out that Bengaluru had successfully managed its full schedule of five IPL league matches this season.
- It highlighted that those games were praised for smooth execution, effective crowd handling, operational efficiency, and an improved overall spectator experience.
- KSCA said the BCCI’s call came after the board chose to stage the playoffs in Dharamsala and Mullanpur, both venues associated with the home base of last season’s runners-up Punjab Kings.
- In the same arrangement, the BCCI awarded the IPL 2026 final to Ahmedabad, marking the fourth time the showpiece has been hosted there in the last five editions since the refurbished Motera stadium came into use.
- KSCA noted that Bengaluru is traditionally expected to host the final, being the home city of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- The association also recalled that Hyderabad and Kolkata were overlooked for playoff hosting last year when the IPL resumed following a break related to the India–Pakistan situation.
- KSCA referenced the BCCI’s earlier justification that, due to certain operational and logistical considerations, the IPL 2026 playoffs would be held across three venues as a special case.
- The board further said the change was driven by “certain requirements” from local associations and authorities that fell outside BCCI’s standard guidelines and protocols.
- KSCA responded by insisting that its own communication to the BCCI was “purely factual, operational, and clarificatory,” meant to bring “transparency and clarity” around logistical and stakeholder-related needs for matches of this scale.
- The KSCA added that Bengaluru’s operational model has been followed “consistently” since the IPL began in 2008, and that it has been applied uniformly during this season as well as in earlier playoff fixtures staged at the ground.
- It also underlined that while KSCA understands the BCCI has made a decision to allocate the playoffs elsewhere, the precise grounds for the choice have not been formally communicated to the association.
- KSCA reaffirmed its respect for BCCI’s authority, stating that it fully acknowledges the board’s prerogative and decision-making power.
Alongside the clarification, KSCA pointed to the status of the Chinnaswamy Stadium itself. It noted that the venue had not hosted matches after last year’s incident involving a stampede during RCB’s victory parade, but that the ground was cleared for IPL 2026 after a successful safety review by government agencies ahead of the season. The KSCA also noted that the BCCI had scheduled two internationals at the stadium: a T20I against Sri Lanka on October 17, 2026, and an ODI versus West Indies on December 16, 2026.
KSCA further described how the five league matches in Bengaluru this year were largely smooth, with only minor logistical issues linked to the state government’s demand for VIP tickets for Members of the Legislative Assembly. Looking ahead, the association said it remains committed to bringing major events to the city, adding that it is “fully prepared and committed” to hosting matches of national and international significance and will continue to extend “fullest support and co-operation” to the BCCI and other stakeholders.
