Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has reacted to the BCCI’s call to relocate the IPL 2026 playoffs and the final from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad, saying it was disappointed by the move while also underlining that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is ready to host major matches. The KSCA response came within hours of the BCCI confirming Ahmedabad as the venue for the IPL 2026 final, with the state body asserting that it had already communicated its readiness to stage the marquee games.
In its official clarification, KSCA said it had formally conveyed its “preparedness, willingness and keen interest” to host the fixtures. “KSCA expresses its disappointment that the IPL Playoff matches have been allotted to other centres,” the association said. The board also pointed to the involvement of KSCA president and former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad, stating that he had directly engaged with the BCCI over Bengaluru’s chances to retain the hosting rights.
KSCA noted that Prasad had “personally been in touch” with the Board of Control for Cricket in India regarding the matter and had also “formally conveyed KSCA’s preparedness, willingness, and keen interest in hosting the IPL Playoffs at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.”
KSCA defends Bengaluru’s hosting record
The clarification followed the BCCI’s release of the playoff schedule earlier in the day, which confirmed the shift of the IPL 2026 final from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad. The BCCI cited “certain operational and logistical considerations” for the change. In the media advisory, BCCI honorary secretary Devajit Saikia explained that while Bengaluru had been the original choice for the final, the venue was moved after demands from the local association and authorities that fell outside the BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols.
Although the BCCI did not spell out what those requirements were, KSCA pushed back by stressing the quality of operations in Bengaluru during the ongoing season. The state body said the matches played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this year had been widely praised for their smooth execution, crowd management, operational efficiency, and the overall experience for spectators. KSCA also claimed it had already sent the BCCI a detailed explanation of the operational structure it uses for IPL matches, and asserted that most arrangements and protocols have been followed consistently since the league began in 2008.
KSCA further maintained that the same approach was applied during the current season as well, including during earlier playoff fixtures held in Bengaluru.
No formal explanation shared
Even with the shift announced, KSCA said it had not received the “specific reasons” behind the decision in a formal way. The association added that while the detailed rationale had not been communicated to it by the BCCI, it fully respects the board’s prerogative and authority when it comes to making such determinations.
The development has reignited debate because Bengaluru—home of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions at the time of the discussion—had been expected to stage the IPL final at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Instead, Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium will host the title match for the fourth time in five seasons. The stadium was also the venue for the final in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
There has been additional speculation around the reason for the change, with reports earlier pointing to an administrative tangle involving ticketing at the Chinnaswamy Stadium as a factor. The implication was that the board decided to return the title clash to a ground that hosted the 2025 final.
With the BCCI’s schedule now set, fans will be watching closely to see how Ahmedabad shapes up for IPL 2026’s biggest day, while KSCA continues to make its case that Bengaluru’s operational readiness for high-profile fixtures remains fully in place.
