The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially unveiled the schedule and venues for the high-stakes IPL 2026 playoffs, stirring both excitement and controversy. In a surprise move, the board announced on Wednesday that the final will be hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. This season, the knockout stages will be distributed across three distinct locations as a special case. While the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala is set to host Qualifier 1 on May 26, the newly inaugurated international stadium in New Chandigarh will be the stage for the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 on May 27 and 29, respectively.
Karnataka State Cricket Association responds after BCCI relocates IPL 2026 final to Ahmedabad
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) broke its silence on Wednesday, expressing profound disappointment over the BCCI’s decision to shift the IPL 2026 final from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad. By convention, Bengaluru was expected to host the summit clash as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the defending champions. However, the BCCI reassigned the venue without citing specific technicalities, only noting that the shift was “owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols.”
At the beginning of the 2026 season, KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad had confirmed that Bengaluru was allotted seven matches, including five home games for RCB, one playoff, and the final. Reacting to the sudden change, KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya stated:
“At the outset, KSCA expresses its disappointment that the IPL Playoff matches have been allotted to other centres. President Venkatesh Prasad was in touch with the BCCI and had formally conveyed our preparedness and keen interest in hosting the Playoffs at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.”
The move comes in the wake of tragic events last year when 11 fans lost their lives in a stampede during RCB’s title celebrations. Since then, the KSCA, in collaboration with the franchise and state authorities, has completed large-scale renovations and security overhauls. Despite five incident-free matches this season, the BCCI has yet to clarify the specific reasons for the relocation. Nonetheless, Mruthyunjaya added that the association respects the BCCI’s ‘prerogative and decision-making authority.’
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to host international fixtures at the end of 2026
While the loss of the IPL final is a bitter pill for the local fans to swallow, international cricket is slated for a grand return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium later this year. The BCCI has confirmed that the iconic venue remains a central pillar of India’s home season, with several high-profile matches scheduled for the final quarter of 2026.
Bengaluru fans can look forward to the fifth T20I between India and the West Indies, which is set to take place on October 17. This series finale is expected to be a massive draw, serving as a homecoming for international cricket in the city. Following this, the 50-over format returns to the garden city as the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled for December 16.
The KSCA has reiterated that the stadium is ‘fully prepared’ to host matches at all levels. Mruthyunjaya emphasized that the association remains committed to providing an exceptional spectator experience and will continue to extend its fullest cooperation to the BCCI and other stakeholders for the successful conduct of these upcoming international fixtures.
