BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has said that the IPL 2026 playoff and final match were not given to Bengaluru, which is the home venue of the defending champions, owing to KSCA’s demand for 10,000 additional tickets during the league matches. As per IPL protocol, all state associations are allocated 15% of the total seating at their venues as complimentary tickets.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was supposed to host one of the playoff fixtures and the final, but the BCCI opted to assign the Qualifier 1 to Dharamsala, Qualifier 2 and the Eliminator to New Chandigarh and the grand finale at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. A day after this schedule was announced, when KSCA expressed their disappointment at missing out, Saikia explained why BCCI had to take the difficult decision.
Devajit Saikia clarifies the stance of BCCI
Speaking to ANI, Devajit Saikia said, “As per IPL protocol, we are required to provide only 15% of the total ensuring capacity as complimentary tickets to the host association. However, we received information from various sources indicating that during the hosting of IPL league matches, KSCA was claiming a significantly higher number of complimentary tickets, far exceeding the stipulated 15%.”Â
When the BCCI wrote to KSCA to find out what was going on, they received a request for excess, which is a total of 10,000 additional tickets over and above the 15%.
Devajit Saikia further added, “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 (MLCs).”Â
Devajit Saikia concluded, “And also to the government of Karnataka, 700 complimentary tickets. Thus, over and above the 15% allocation, they are 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 protocol by issuing tickets in excess of what is permitted under the IPL’s rules and regulations, specifically, the 15% complimentary quote allocated to the host state.”Â
The Implications of this decision
While BCCI justified its call to relocate from Bengaluru to other venues, and they have their reasons for that, which must be respected. But amidst all this, it is the fans and people of Bengaluru who are the ultimate losers in this decision-making. We agree that the demands made to give tickets to MLAs or MLCs are not right after the prescribed limit, and BCCI punished the KSCA by shifting the matches from the stadium, but the fans will feel hard done by.
It is not the question of whether RCB makes it to the playoffs/final and whether they feature in the final or not. That is a totally different matter. But the fact that Bengaluru would have gotten to host the final would have been a great spectacle. The fans deserve better from Bengaluru. RCB might feel disheartened a little, but they are a professional side and must go about their business properly. They should now be doubly motivated and try to win the tournament in Ahmedabad for the second year in a row; it won’t be easy.
So, more than RCB, we feel sorry for the Bengaluru fans who had the legitimate right to host the 2026 final, but due to politics, the venue has been shifted. And it will be at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where it has hosted the 2022, 2023 and 2025 finals of IPL. This will be the fourth final in 5 years at that venue. While Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, has hosted one IPL final in 2018, despite MI winning the title 5 times. That’s the harsh reality of decision-making.
Also Read:Â IPL 2026: Ahmedabad To Host IPL Final