File photo of Narendra Modi Stadium. New Delhi: The 2026 Indian Premier League final is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31, TOI has learnt. The probable dates for the playoffs are May 26 (1st Qualifier), May 27 (Eliminator) and May 29 (2nd Qualifier). Play offs will be played in Mullanpur and Dharamsala.The decision to host the IPL title match in Ahmedabad instead of Bengaluru goes against the convention of playing the final at the home of the reigning champions. In this case, the final was to be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the home of last year’s title winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Watch
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Debut in India: Calls are getting louder“Due to certain operational and logistical considerations, the IPL 2026 Playoffs will be held at three venues this season as a special case,” an IPL statement said.“Bengaluru was initially earmarked to host the final. However, due to certain demands of the local association and authorities, which were outside the established BCCI guidelines and protocols, the venue was shifted and allocated,” he continued.It is understood that an ongoing administrative mess over tickets at the Chinnaswamy Stadium has forced the Board of Control for Cricket in India to move the title match back to the venue for the 2025 final. Last year too, the IPL final was shifted from Eden Gardens, Kolkata to Ahmedabad due to weather forecast and the 2026 title match will be the fourth at this venue in the last five years. Chennai hosted the final between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024.The IPL now enters the business end with as many as seven teams fighting for a place in the playoffs. Last year’s runners-up Punjab Kings lead the table with 13 points from nine matches, followed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.As many as four teams are tied on 12 points and the coming week could provide a better picture of who is more likely to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament.
IPL 2026 PLAYOFFS
May 26: Qualification 1 v HPCA Stadium, DharamshalaMay 27: Eliminator v New International Cricket Stadium, New ChandigarhMay 29: Qualification 2 v New International Cricket Stadium, New ChandigarhMay 31: Final v Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
