IPL 2026 Final Relocated to Ahmedabad Due to Ticket Controversy

IPL Final Venue Shifted from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad

In a recent announcement, Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), revealed that the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will now take place in Ahmedabad instead of Bengaluru. This decision was prompted by the Karnataka State Cricket Association's request for an excessive number of complimentary tickets, far exceeding the allowed quota.

Saikia clarified that according to IPL regulations, the defending champions are entitled to host the final and one playoff match at their home ground, which would have naturally made Bengaluru the venue following the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory last season.

However, due to what the BCCI termed as unreasonable ticket demands from the Karnataka association, the decision was made to relocate the matches. He noted that host associations are permitted to receive only 15% of the stadium's seating capacity as complimentary tickets.

The BCCI and IPL have now designated three venues for the playoff matches, with the first playoff match set for Dharamshala. The Eliminator and another playoff match will occur in New Chandigarh, while the final is scheduled for May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Saikia emphasized that the defending champions, RCB, should have hosted the final in Bengaluru, but due to recent developments, the BCCI had to shift the venue. He reiterated that the IPL protocol allows only a 15% allocation of complimentary tickets to host associations, yet the Karnataka State Association was reportedly requesting significantly more.

Concerns arose when the BCCI learned that the Karnataka body was seeking around 10,000 additional tickets for various stakeholders, including government officials and affiliated clubs, which was deemed a breach of IPL regulations. Saikia stated that the BCCI had no choice but to relocate the playoff fixtures due to these demands.

As a result, Qualifier 1 will be held at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on May 26, followed by the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 in Mullanpur on May 27 and 29, respectively, leading up to the final in Ahmedabad on May 31.

Saikia expressed surprise at the Karnataka State Cricket Association's email response, which requested a substantial number of tickets beyond the 15% quota, including 700 for the state government. He concluded that the BCCI must adhere to its protocols and could not accommodate the excessive ticket requests, necessitating the relocation of the matches.