BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has clarified why the IPL 2026 final was shifted from Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Speaking to ANI, Saikia said the change came after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) allegedly asked for complimentary tickets well beyond the allowed limit, leaving the board with no alternative.
Quick facts
- IPL 2026 final moved to Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, from M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- The final is scheduled for May 31 in Ahmedabad
- Qualifier 1: May 26 at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala
- Eliminator and Qualifier 2: May 27 and May 29 respectively, in Mullanpur
- Playoff venues were revealed on Wednesday, May 6
Saikia said IPL regulations require the host association to receive only 15% of the venue’s total seating capacity as complimentary tickets. He described this as the standard arrangement that applies to host state bodies for IPL matches.
However, the BCCI secretary claimed that, through inputs from multiple sources, the KSCA was seeking a far larger number of complimentary tickets during IPL league matches—numbers that allegedly exceeded the 15% ceiling. He added that this became a key trigger behind the board’s decision-making.
The BCCI official also noted that the board was “shocked” after receiving the KSCA’s communication about the summit clash. Saikia said the KSCA had already voiced disappointment over losing the chance to stage the IPL 2026 final in Bengaluru, prompting the BCCI to seek further specifics by email.
In Saikia’s account, the BCCI reached out to the KSCA for exact details, and a response arrived on May 2 via email. He said the KSCA indicated that, beyond the 15% complimentary ticket quota, it would need an additional major allocation for its members, affiliated clubs, and other stakeholders connected to the association.
Saikia further claimed the KSCA’s request included tickets for local MLAs and MLCs, along with a separate demand of 700 complimentary tickets for the government of Karnataka. Putting it together, he said the KSCA was effectively asking for roughly 10,000 additional tickets on top of the standard 15% allocation.
With that backdrop, Saikia said the BCCI had no option but to move the final. The 19th edition’s championship match is set for May 31 in Ahmedabad, while the playoff schedule was confirmed after the venues were announced on Wednesday, May 6—an update that surprised many fans given Bengaluru’s previous success in hosting the tournament.
As for the rest of the knockout phase, Qualifier 1 will be played on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. The Eliminator and Qualifier 2 are scheduled for May 27 and May 29 respectively, with both matches set to be held in Mullanpur.
