IPL 2026: Chinnaswamy Stadium could be robbed off from hosting the playoffs and IPL 2026 final and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans can well be deprived of the defending champions lifting the trophy again. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is mulling over awarding the playoff games and IPL 2026 final to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, owing to the political issues in Bengaluru.
Why is Benglauru the frontrunner to host the IPL 2026 final?
The team that wins the IPL is awarded the final of the following season. As such the Chinnaswamy Stadium has been awarded the tournament-decider is slated to stage the marquee fixture. While the Eden Gardens was supposed to host the final of the 2025 edition, potential weather inclement and some logistical issues following the India-Pakistan border tensions forced the BCCI to move the final to Ahmedabad.
IPL 2026: Are Ongoing MLA Ticket Issues in Bengaluru Creating Uncertainty?
According to a recent report by ANI, BCCI us mulling whether or not to split the matches between the home ground of last season’s finalist over the political complications surrounding the stadium. The political issues in Bengaluru relates to the MLA tickets, causing disruptions, while concerns reportedly also remain over Bengaluru’s inability to handle the victory parade as it resulted in 11 deaths from the deadly stampede.
Meanwhile, earlier in the season, ongress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar publicly demanded that that elected representatives be handed over multiple wickets for IPL fixtures. Kashappanavar asserted that ‘VIPs’ should not have to wait in queues for tickets similar to regular fans. The report from ANI said:
“IPL 2026 playoffs and final venue will be announced soon. Matches likely to be divided into Punjab and Karnataka, the last time winner should host the final, but MLA ticket issue is creating problems in Bengaluru, and if there is no solution, then BCCI will move the final to another city.”
When Will BCCI Announce IPL 2026 Playoffs and Final Venues?
The BCCI, on Saturday, claimed that they would be announcing the schedule for the playoffs in 1 or 2 days. However, there is no official word on the same yet.
