BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced on May 7 that the decision to relocate the 2026 Indian Premier League final from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad was prompted by a dispute over ticket allocations. According to Saikia, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) allegedly requested a volume of complimentary tickets that significantly exceeded the established quota. This move marks a major shift for the tournament's climax, moving the high-stakes match away from the home of the defending champions due to these administrative disagreements.
Devajit Saikia on why IPL 2026 final forced out of Bengaluru
Under standard IPL protocols, the reigning champions typically earn the right to host the final and one playoff fixture at their home stadium. Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s successful title-winning campaign last season, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was the designated venue for these marquee events. However, Saikia explained that the BCCI felt compelled to intervene and change the venue after the state association’s demands reportedly bypassed the standard operational guidelines set for host cities.
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The central issue remains the strict limit on complimentary seating, which Saikia noted is capped at 15 percent of a stadium's total capacity for host associations. The BCCI maintains that adhering to these percentages is essential for the commercial and operational integrity of the league. By shifting the matches to Ahmedabad, the board has sent a clear signal regarding the enforcement of these protocols, even when it involves the traditional home-ground advantage of the defending titleholders.
"Yesterday, the BCCI and the IPL announced the venues for the playoff matches. We have the Qualifiers and Playoffs, as well as the Final match. Therefore, we have selected three venues. One venue is Dharamshala; the first playoff match will take place there. Subsequently, there will be an Eliminator and another playoff match. Thus, the second and third matches will be held in New Chandigarh, while the Final is scheduled to take place on May 31st at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad," Saikia told the media, as quoted by ANI.
"Initially, in accordance with standard protocol, the defending champions (or the champion franchise from the previous year) are entitled to host the Final, as well as one playoff match, at their home venue. RCB was the defending champion last year; therefore, this match should have ideally been held in Bangalore. However, due to certain circumstances arising from recent developments, the BCCI and the IPL were compelled to decide to shift the venue away from Bangalore, allocating one match to New Chandigarh and the other to the Narendra Modi Stadium, which is the designated venue for the Final in Ahmedabad," Saikia added.
"As per IPL protocol, we are required to provide only 15% of the total seating capacity as complimentary tickets to the host association. This constitutes the standard protocol; all host state associations receive a 15% allocation of their total capacity in the form of complimentary tickets. However, we received information from various sources indicating that during the hosting of IPL league matches, the Karnataka State Association was claiming a significantly higher number of complimentary tickets, far exceeding the stipulated 15%," Saikia further stated.
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'We were shocked when we received a response via email from KSCA'
The BCCI’s decision to intervene was sparked by reports that the Karnataka cricket body had consistently sought ticket allocations far exceeding the regulatory limit throughout the IPL league phase. Upon further inquiry, the association allegedly requested an additional 10,000 tickets to accommodate various stakeholders, including its members, affiliated clubs, and political figures such as MLAs and MLCs. Most notably, the request included 700 complimentary passes specifically earmarked for the Government of Karnataka, a demand that the board viewed as a significant overreach.
Characterising these requests as a direct violation of established IPL regulations, Devajit Saikia stated that the BCCI was left with no alternative but to relocate the high-profile playoff fixtures. This administrative conflict has resulted in a complete reshuffle of the post-season schedule. Qualifier 1 is now set to take place at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on May 26, while the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 will move to Mullanpur on May 27 and 29. The tournament will eventually reach its climax on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
"Consequently, we sent them an email requesting precise details regarding this matter. We were shocked when we received a response via email from the Karnataka State Cricket Association on May 2nd; in that email, they stated that over and above the 15% complimentary ticket quota, they would require an additional, substantial allocation of tickets for their members, affiliated clubs, and various others. Most surprisingly, they also requested tickets for their local Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of the Legislative Council," Saikia continued.
"And also to the government of Karnataka, 700 complimentary tickets. Thus, over and above the 15% allocation, they were demanding approximately 10,000 additional tickets. And as you are all aware, the BCCI serves as the host body for the Playoff and Final matches. Therefore, we cannot violate our protocols by issuing tickets in excess of what is permitted under the IPL's rules and regulations, specifically, the 15% complimentary quota allocated to the host state. Consequently, we were compelled to make the difficult decision to relocate the matches from Karnataka," he signed off.