KSCA Expresses Disappointment as BCCI Shifts IPL 2026 Final to Ahmedabad

Tanay Hughes · 06/05/2026 · 4 min read

The Shifting Landscape of IPL 2026: A Controversy at the Summit

As the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 reaches its critical juncture, with the 19th edition of the tournament nearing its 50th match, the focus has shifted from the pitch to the boardroom. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council have officially announced the venues for the upcoming playoffs and the grand final. However, the announcement has been met with significant pushback from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), as the highly anticipated final has been moved away from Bengaluru.

The Unexpected Venue Announcement

In a detailed update, the BCCI indicated that the IPL 2026 playoffs will be distributed across three distinct locations: Dharamshala, New Chandigarh (Mullanpur), and Ahmedabad. The board cited operational and logistical factors for this distribution, labeling it a ‘special case.’ While the expansion to venues like the HPCA Stadium and the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium is seen as a move to broaden the league’s reach, it came at the cost of a previously rumored fixture.

Earlier reports had strongly suggested that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru would host the final. This was largely based on the tradition of the reigning champions—in this case, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)—hosting the ultimate match of the following season on their home turf. The sudden turn of events, confirming the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as the host for the final, has left the KSCA and its leadership in a state of shock and disappointment.

KSCA and Venkatesh Prasad Voice Disapproval

The KSCA president and legendary Indian pacer, Venkatesh Prasad, had been actively engaging with the BCCI to ensure that Bengaluru remained the centerpiece of the playoff season. Following the official venue announcement, the KSCA released a formal statement expressing their profound disappointment. The association highlighted their readiness and the successful track record of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in managing high-stakes matches.

The KSCA statement read: ‘At the outset, KSCA expresses its disappointment that the IPL Playoff matches have been allotted to other centres. KSCA President and legendary Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad was personally in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in this regard and had also formally conveyed KSCA’s preparedness, willingness, and keen interest in hosting the IPL Playoffs at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.’

Operational Excellence and Fan Experience

One of the primary arguments put forth by the KSCA was the seamless execution of the league stage matches already held in Bengaluru this season. The association pointed to their superior crowd management and operational efficiency as reasons why the stadium was more than capable of hosting the playoffs. ‘The IPL matches conducted in Bengaluru during the current season were widely appreciated for their smooth execution, crowd management, operational efficiency, and overall spectator experience, reaffirming KSCA’s capability to successfully host marquee fixtures of such scale and importance,’ the statement continued.

Despite this vocal advocacy, the BCCI has stuck to its decision. The KSCA has noted that while they respect the prerogative of the national board, the specific reasons for the snub have not been formally communicated. ‘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,’ the association concluded.

The Roadmap to the Final

The playoff structure for 2026 is now set in stone. Qualifier 1 is scheduled to take place at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. This match will feature the top two teams from the group stage, with the winner earning a direct ticket to the final in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, the Eliminator will be hosted in New Chandigarh, bringing the high-octane battle between the third and fourth-ranked teams to the northern region.

Following the Eliminator, the action will stay in New Chandigarh for Qualifier 2, where the winner of the Eliminator will face the loser of Qualifier 1. The journey culminates at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the Final on May 26. This schedule mirrors the previous season’s logistics, where New Chandigarh and Ahmedabad also shared the playoff responsibilities.

Looking Ahead

As the league stage concludes, the final match of the regular season between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 24 will set the final standings. While the administrative friction between the KSCA and the BCCI adds a layer of tension off the field, the focus for the players remains on the silverware. For the fans in Bengaluru, the news is a bitter pill to swallow, but the cricketing world now looks toward Ahmedabad to see who will be crowned the champions of the 19th IPL edition.

Tanay Hughes

Tanay Hughes is a senior cricket correspondent for the Daily FT, Sri Lanka’s leading financial daily. Of Burgher descent, Hughes grew up steeped in the island’s rich literary and cricketing traditions. He covers the national team, the World Test Championship, and the domestic circuit with a special focus on spin bowling and the transformation of cricket infrastructure after the civil war. His work also explores the business side of the sport, including broadcasting deals and the financial pressures on smaller Test-playing nations. A Colombo native and University of Colombo graduate, Hughes is a regular voice on Sri Lankan television panels and contributes to The Cricketer and Wisden online.