The Karnataka State Cricket Association has expressed disappointment after Bengaluru missed out on hosting the IPL 2026 play-offs and final despite being initially earmarked as the venue for the summit clash. The KSCA, in an official statement issued on Wednesday, said it has formally informed the BCCI about its readiness and willingness to host a marquee at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Clarification comes only moments later BCCI has confirmed that the IPL 2026 final will now be played in Ahmedabad, while Dharamshala and New Chandigarh will host the other playoff matches. In an official statement issued by spokesperson Vinay Mruthunjaya, the KSCA said the association has fully communicated its readiness to the board.
“KSCA President and legendary Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad was personally in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in this regard and also formally conveyed KSCA’s readiness, willingness and keen interest to host the IPL Playoffs at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium,” the statement said.
“The IPL matches held in Bengaluru during the current season have been widely appreciated for their smooth execution, crowd management, operational efficiency and overall spectator experience, reaffirming KSCA’s ability to successfully host marquees of such scale and importance.”
The statement is the first official response from the KSCA since Bengaluru lost hosting rights not only for the final but for all play-off matches despite the long-standing IPL convention of the defending champions hosting the title clash.
WHY BENGALURU FAILED IN IPL 2026 FINAL?
Officially, the BCCI cited “operational and logistical considerations” behind the venue realignment.
“Due to certain operational and logistical considerations, the TATA IPL 2026 Playoffs will be held at three venues this season as a special case. Bengaluru was initially earmarked to host the final. Due to certain demands of the local association and authorities, which were outside the established BCCI guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and rescheduled,” the management said in a statement.
But the controversy surrounding Bengaluru has been building for weeks.
Earlier in the season, Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar publicly demanded free IPL tickets for elected representatives, arguing that MLAs are “VIPs” and should not stand in queues like ordinary fans.
The matter quickly turned political, forcing Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to intervene before a compromise involving free tickets for MLAs, MLCs and MPs was reached.
Sources had earlier suggested that the growing clamor over ticket allocation combined with logistical concerns played a role in the BCCI’s decision to shift the playoffs from Bengaluru.
The move also means the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the IPL final for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
WHAT KSCA SAID AFTER IPL FINAL CHANGE
In a statement, the KSCA said the communication sent by the BCCI was purely operational and aimed at explaining the framework under which the IPL matches in Bengaluru this season were conducted.
“Most of these arrangements and protocols have been strictly followed since the inception of the IPL in 2008 and have been uniformly implemented during the current season as well, including the earlier play-off matches held in Bengaluru,” the statement said.
“The communication to the KSCA was purely factual, operative and clear, only to provide transparency and clarity regarding the logistical and stakeholder requirements involved in hosting such high profile matches.”
The KSCA also said that although the exact reasons for the change of venue were never formally communicated, the association respected the BCCI’s decision.
“Despite our readiness and willingness to host the Playoffs, we understand that the BCCI has taken a decision to allocate these matches to other venues. While the specific reasons for the same have not been formally communicated to the KSCA, we fully respect the BCCI’s prerogative and decision-making powers in this regard.”
The association further added that it remains committed to hosting major cricket events in the future and will continue to support the BCCI and other stakeholders.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
06 May 2026 15:39 IST
