Source espncric info
AHMEDABAD – In a move that has sparked significant debate across the cricketing world, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Wednesday that the final of the IPL 2026 will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The decision marks a major shift, as the summit clash was originally slated for Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the home ground of the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
A Change in Tradition
By tradition, the defending champion of the Indian Premier League earns the right to host the season finale. However, for the second consecutive year, the BCCI has deviated from this norm. In 2025, the final was moved from Kolkata to Ahmedabad, and the 2026 edition follows the same pattern.
According to an official media advisory from the IPL, the decision was driven by logistical and administrative hurdles:
“Bengaluru was originally designated to host the Final. 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.”
Reports suggest that ongoing administrative issues regarding ticketing at the Chinnaswamy Stadium played a pivotal role in the board’s decision to relocate the game to the world’s largest cricket stadium.
The Road to the Trophy: Playoff Schedule
With the final moved to Gujarat, the BCCI also revealed the full schedule for the 2026 knockout stage. Interestingly, Bengaluru has been left out of the playoff mix entirely, with matches distributed across Dharamshala and New Chandigarh.
Match Date Venue
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
Grand Final May 31 Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
KSCA Expresses Disappointment
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) expressed its “deep disappointment” following the announcement. In a statement, the association highlighted its successful track record of hosting high-profile matches and noted that the local fans—widely regarded as some of the most passionate in the league—would be deprived of seeing the tournament’s climax on their home turf.
Ahmedabad’s Growing Dominance
This will be the fourth time in five seasons that the Narendra Modi Stadium has hosted the IPL final (2022, 2023, 2025, and now 2026). With a seating capacity of over 130,000, the venue remains the BCCI’s preferred choice for “marquee fixtures,” offering unmatched commercial and spectator scale.
As the league stage nears its conclusion on May 24, all eyes now turn to Ahmedabad for what promises to be a spectacular conclusion to the 19th edition of the IPL.
