BCCI clarifies why IPL 2026 final moved from Chinnaswamy Stadium to Narendra Modi Stadium — complimentary ticket dispute

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has officially clarified the reason behind shifting the IPL 2026 final from Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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The BCCI decided to move the final from Bengaluru because they encountered problems with complimentary ticket requests and operational needs which the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru considered their home stadium. The IPL 2026 final will now take place in Ahmedabad on May 31 while Dharamsala and New Chandigarh will serve as the venues for the remaining playoff matches.

Why Did BCCI Move IPL 2026 Final from Chinnaswamy Stadium? 

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia revealed that the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had allegedly requested a significantly higher number of complimentary tickets beyond the permitted quota. Saikia explained that IPL regulations permit host associations to obtain 15 per cent of the stadium's seating capacity as free tickets.

The board received requests, which numbered almost 10000 additional tickets for members and affiliated clubs, MLAs, MLCs and government officials. The BCCI stated that such demands were beyond IPL regulations and protocols, which made the board decide to choose a new site for the final match instead of Bengaluru.

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Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara explained that commercial interests probably affected the decision because Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium provides more seats than Chinnaswamy Stadium. The BCCI confirmed that nobody submitted complaints about security systems and operational procedures during IPL matches in Bengaluru for the entire season.

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IPL 2026 Final at Narendra Modi Stadium — Playoffs Schedule

Ahmedabad will now host the IPL final for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in the last five years. The Narendra Modi Stadium, known as the world’s largest cricket stadium, has a seating capacity of more than 1,32,000 fans.

The matches for IPL 2026 will start with Qualifier 1, which will take place at Dharamsala on May 26. New Chandigarh will host the Eliminator on May 27 and Qualifier 2 on May 29 before the tournament concludes in Ahmedabad.

The decision has triggered strong reactions among fans, especially in Bengaluru, where many had expected the final to be played following RCB’s title-winning campaign last season. The BCCI has defended its decision about the venue shift because it followed both operational guidelines and IPL regulations according to the official procedures.