M Chinnaswamy’s home team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is unlikely to host the Indian Premier League final and play-off matches as the Board of Control for Cricket in India considers the uncertainty surrounding the venue. The BCCI is expected to announce the venues for the fast-approaching playoffs and finals soon.
According to a report by ANI, the BCCI is unlikely to split the matches between the home ground of last season’s finalists due to complications surrounding M Chinnaswamy. This means it could prevent Bengaluru from hosting the much-anticipated final, which their side RCB is bidding for.
The convention for IPL finals is that the match is hosted by the defending champions. However, political issues in Bengaluru, especially related to MLA tickets, are currently causing disruption. This also comes after the city’s ineffectiveness in handling last season’s victory parade, which resulted in several deaths.
“The IPL 2026 play-offs and final venue will be announced soon. The matches are likely to be split between Punjab and Karnataka, the last winner should host the final, but the MLA ticket issue is causing problems in Bengaluru and if there is no solution, BCCI will shift the final to another city,” the report quoted a source as saying.
Last year, the final was shifted from Kolkata’s Eden Gardens due to potential weather disturbances and other logistical concerns along the Indo-Pakistani border, tensions threatened to turn into full-blown war. BCCI mulls IPL final venue (screenshot from X)
WHAT STARTED THE CONTROVERSY?
Earlier in the season, Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar had publicly demanded that elected representatives be given some free tickets for IPL matches. His argument was that MLAs are “VIPs” and should not stand in queues like ordinary fans.
The matter escalated so much that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar intervened. A compromise was announced, with three free tickets allotted to each MLA, MLC and MP for matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, even this did not completely calm the situation. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has clarified that the tickets are non-transferable and can be used only by the MLAs themselves or their family members, thus warding off fears of misuse.
RCB are currently second in the table with 12 points from nine matches
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Published on:
05 May 2026 17:40 IST
