IPL 2026 Final Relocated to Ahmedabad Due to Ticket Controversy
BCCI's Decision to Move IPL Final
On Thursday, Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), announced that the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be held in Ahmedabad instead of Bengaluru. This change was prompted by the Karnataka State Cricket Association's request for complimentary tickets that exceeded the allowed quota.
IPL Playoff Venues Confirmed
Saikia clarified that according to IPL regulations, the defending champions are entitled to host the final and one playoff match at their home ground. Following the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory last season, Bengaluru was expected to host the final. However, due to excessive ticket demands from the Karnataka association, the BCCI opted to relocate the matches.
He stated, "Host associations are entitled to only 15% of the stadium's seating capacity as complimentary tickets. The BCCI has now confirmed three venues for the playoff matches: the first playoff will take place in Dharamshala, followed by two matches in New Chandigarh, and the final will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31st."
Reasons Behind Venue Change
Saikia elaborated that the standard protocol allows the defending champions to host the final at their venue. However, due to recent developments, the BCCI had to shift the venue from Bengaluru. He mentioned that the Karnataka State Association had requested around 10,000 additional tickets, which included 700 complimentary passes for the state government, far exceeding the permitted 15% allocation.
The BCCI expressed concern over these demands, which were seen as a breach of IPL regulations. Consequently, the decision was made to move the playoff fixtures, with Qualifier 1 scheduled for May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, followed by the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 in Mullanpur on May 27 and 29, respectively.
KSCA's Ticket Request
Saikia mentioned that the BCCI reached out to the Karnataka State Cricket Association for clarification on their ticket requests. In a surprising email response received on May 2nd, the association requested a significant number of tickets beyond the 15% quota for their members and local legislators.
He concluded, "The BCCI cannot violate its protocols by issuing tickets beyond the allowed limit. Therefore, we had no choice but to relocate the matches from Karnataka."