The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has voiced strong disappointment after Bengaluru was left out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs and the final, even though the city’s cricket body had formally told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that it was ready and willing to host the marquee matches. Bengaluru had been considered a frontrunner for the title showdown as the defending champions are based in the city, but the BCCI has instead scheduled the final in Ahmedabad.
According to the BCCI’s venue allocations, the playoff matches will be staged in Dharamsala and Mullanpur, which means the M Chinnaswamy Stadium will not host any knockout game during the season. Bengaluru’s absence from the playoffs has added extra weight because Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are carrying the title into the next edition.
KSCA disappointed after Bengaluru misses IPL playoffs
KSCA said it was “disappointed” that the playoff fixtures were assigned to other centres. In a statement, the association noted that it had been expecting those games to come to Bengaluru.
The KSCA also stated that it had already communicated to the BCCI its “preparedness, willingness, and keen interest” to stage playoff matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The association further added that its president, Venkatesh Prasad, had personally followed up with the BCCI on the issue.
To strengthen its case, KSCA pointed out that Bengaluru has successfully hosted matches during the current IPL season. The association said the games at the venue were widely praised for their smooth staging, crowd management, operational execution, and the overall experience for fans.
The development comes after the BCCI announced the schedule for the knockout phase: Qualifier 1 will be played in Dharamsala, while the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 are set to be hosted in Mullanpur. The final is scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31.
Bengaluru’s omission has taken on additional significance because RCB are the reigning champions. Traditionally, there is an expectation that the home ground of the previous season’s winner receives preference for the final, but the BCCI has moved the title match away from Bengaluru. The board cited operational and logistical factors for the shift.
KSCA said it respects the BCCI’s authority to make venue decisions, while also clarifying that it has not been told the exact grounds for the change in writing. The association said it understands the board’s call, even as Bengaluru’s formal readiness did not translate into a knockout fixture this year.
“Despite our preparedness and willingness to host the Playoffs, we understand that the BCCI has taken a decision to allot these matches to other venues. While the specific reasons for the same have not been formally communicated to KSCA, we fully respect the prerogative and decision-making authority of the BCCI in this regard,” KSCA said.
The controversy sits in the background of increased attention on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium following last year’s stampede during RCB’s title celebrations. The venue, however, returned to IPL action this season after safety reviews and went on to stage league matches without any reported disruption.
KSCA also stressed that its communication with the BCCI was based on factual and operational points. The association said it had aimed to provide clarity on the logistical demands and stakeholder requirements that come with hosting major fixtures.
The KSCA maintained that Bengaluru is fully capable of staging high-profile cricket events and pledged to keep working with the BCCI and other stakeholders. With the playoff venues now confirmed, the association’s statement has placed Bengaluru’s exclusion at the centre of the IPL 2026 venue debate—and it also raises a direct question over why a ground that hosted league games this season and had declared formal readiness was not considered for a knockout match.
