Bengaluru was denied the chance to host the final of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League. In a surprising turn of events, Ahmedabad was once again given the chance to host the title-clash which comes as a big surprise.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council shared a statement regarding the venues for the playoffs for the ongoing edition. In it, they explained that Bengaluru were indeed the designated hosts for the final. But certain requirements from the local bodies that were beyond their scope came into play, resulting in the change of venues.
“Owing to certain operational and logistical considerations, the TATA IPL 2026 Playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special case.Bengaluru was originally designated to host the Final,” the statement read.
“However, owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and reassigned,” it adds.
The BCCI confirmed on Tuesday that Qualifier 1 will be played in Dharamshala, while both the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 will take place in New Chandigarh before the tournament concludes in Ahmedabad.
IPL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
- Qualifier 1 – May 26 – HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
- Eliminator – May 27 – New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
- Qualifier 2 – May 29 – New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
- Final – May 31 – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The IPL 2026 playoffs will begin in Dharamshala before moving to New Chandigarh and then Ahmedabad for the final.
Qualifier 1 will be played in Dharamshala on May 26, followed by the Eliminator in New Chandigarh on May 27. The same venue will then host Qualifier 2 on May 29, before the final is played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31.
As per IPL rules, the top two teams at the end of the league stage will face off in Qualifier 1, with the winner advancing directly to the final. The loser will get another chance in Qualifier 2.
Teams finishing third and fourth will meet in the Eliminator, where the loser is knocked out and the winner advances to Qualifier 2.
That scheduling creates a clear advantage for the winner of Qualifier 1, who will have four full days to recover, travel from Dharamshala to Ahmedabad and prepare for the final.
The path is far tighter for everyone else. The loser of Qualifier 1 will have to regroup and play again in Qualifier 2 three days later. The winner of the Eliminator will face an even tougher turnaround, with just two days between matches before potentially travelling to Ahmedabad for the final less than 48 hours later.
With the schedule now out, here is a look at some of the recent controversies that may have cast Bengaluru in a negative light.
KARNATAKA MLA VIP TICKET CONTROVERSY
Earlier in the season, Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar demanded that elected government officials be given multiple complimentary tickets for IPL matches. His argument was that MLAs are “VIPs” and should not have to stand in queues like regular fans.
The matter escalated enough for Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to step in. A compromise was announced, with three complimentary tickets allocated to each MLA, MLC and MP for matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, even that did not fully calm the situation. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara clarified that the tickets are non-transferable and can only be used by the MLAs themselves or their family members, pushing back against concerns of misuse.
For international matches, each MLA will receive two tickets, with the option to purchase two additional seats. All of which will be non-transferable and can only be used by the MLAs themselves or their family members, pushing back against concerns of misuse.
BLACK MARKET TICKET SALES IN BENGALURU
Bengaluru police have arrested a canteen worker at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in a major crackdown on IPL ticket black marketing, seizing around 100 match tickets during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants clash.
The accused, Chandrashekhar, worked at Sri Lakshmi Canteen inside the stadium and was allegedly caught selling tickets for inflated prices ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 19,000. During questioning, he reportedly told police that the tickets were supplied by KSCA member Ganesh Parikshit, who allegedly asked him to sell them at a profit.
Parikshit is currently absconding, with police launching a search operation to trace him. The Central Crime Branch has also filed an FIR against managing directors of certain private companies for allegedly aiding the illegal sale of tickets.
The arrest has once again put IPL ticketing in Karnataka under scrutiny, coming weeks after controversy over complimentary tickets for MLAs further fuelled criticism around transparency and fair access for fans.
THE CHINNASWAMY STAMPEDE
What was meant to be a night of celebration in Bengaluru ended in tragedy after a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed at least 11 lives. Huge crowds had gathered around the venue to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first-ever IPL title and catch a glimpse of the players during the felicitation ceremony.
As the team arrived and celebrations began inside the stadium, thousands of supporters surged towards the gates, leading to complete chaos outside. Fans were seen climbing walls, scaling trees and crowding around the team bus in an attempt to get closer to the players. The situation quickly spiralled out of control, resulting in a deadly crush that left several dead and many injured.
The incident drew widespread criticism, especially as the felicitation ceremony inside the stadium continued even while the chaos unfolded outside.
Among those killed were three teenagers, with several others aged between 20 and 35, turning what should have been a historic night for Bengaluru cricket into a devastating tragedy.
AHMEDABAD HOSTING THE BIG GAMES
Since hosting its first match after redevelopment in 2021, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has quickly become one of cricket’s go-to venues for marquee clashes. From IPL playoffs to World Cup finals, the stadium has regularly been trusted with some of the biggest games on the calendar.
IPL 2022
- Qualifier 2: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Final: Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals
IPL 2023
- Qualifier 2: Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians
- Final: Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings
ODI World Cup 2023
- Final: India vs Australia
IPL 2024
- Qualifier 1: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Eliminator: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
IPL 2025
- Qualifier 2: Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings
- Final: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
T20 World Cup 2026
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
- Final: India vs New Zealand
– Ends
