Karnataka’s home minister G Parameshwara has said the decision to move the IPL 2026 final away from Bengaluru was not driven by security worries. He suggested the change looks to have been shaped by business and commercial factors tied to stadium capacity, after Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium had initially been named the venue.
The final was first scheduled for May 31 at Chinnaswamy Stadium, but the BCCI later reassigned the title match to Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Speaking on the development, Parameshwara stated that police, IPL officials and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) did not flag any concerns about law-and-order arrangements in the city.
Quick facts
- IPL 2026 final initially earmarked for Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 31
- BCCI later moved the final to Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad
- Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said security was not the reason
- He claimed seating and sponsor allocations at Chinnaswamy Stadium could impact commercial viability
- Revised playoffs: Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala (May 26); Eliminator in Mullanpur (May 27); Qualifier 2 in Mullanpur (May 29); final in Ahmedabad (May 31)
Parameshwara said there had been no complaints over security issues, pointing out that several matches have already been conducted in Bengaluru without any problems. “There has been no complaint over security issues. Five matches have already been held here, so security is not the reason. Neither the IPL authorities, RCB, nor the police have raised any complaint,” he told ANI.
He added that the information available to him unofficially indicated that the stadium’s seating numbers may have influenced the choice. Parameshwara claimed Chinnaswamy Stadium has around 33,000 seats, but that roughly 7,000 to 8,000 are reserved for sponsors and other allocations, leaving only about 25,000 for general commercial purposes.
“The unofficial information I received is that the stadium has only 33,000 seats, out of which 7,000-8,000 seats must be allotted to sponsors and others. Because of that, they themselves block around 7,000-8,000 seats, leaving only about 25,000 seats. Hence, it may not be commercially viable,” he said.
KSCA kept in the loop, but no official explanation
Parameshwara further stated that the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had been in contact with the organisers. However, despite those discussions, Bengaluru ultimately did not receive the final.
He noted a typical pattern in the tournament where, after a team becomes champion, the next edition often starts and ends at that franchise’s home venue. Parameshwara suggested that the IPL authorities appeared to have weighed all relevant factors earlier and then made the call.
Earlier on Wednesday, the IPL released a statement clarifying the sequence of decisions. It said Bengaluru was originally selected to host the final, but the venue was shifted and reassigned due to certain requirements coming from the local association and authorities that were beyond BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols.
KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya said the association has not received any official communication explaining why Chinnaswamy Stadium would not host the matches. “There has been no official communication stating why the matches are not being hosted at Chinnaswamy Stadium. So we don’t have any official information as of now. But of course it’s a prerogative of the BCCI, and I like to respect the decision what BCCI has taken,” he told ANI.
Revised playoff venues and dates
With the revised playoff schedule in place, Qualifier 1 is set to be played at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on May 26. The Eliminator and Qualifier 2 will take place in Mullanpur on May 27 and May 29 respectively, before the final in Ahmedabad on May 31.
