Bengaluru

The Karnataka State Cricket Association on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the decision to move the Indian Premier League 2026 playoff matches, including the final, away from Bengaluru.

The city was originally expected to host the final under the tournament’s customary rotation, as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted the title last season. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India reassigned the summit clash to Ahmedabad.

While announcing the revised schedule, the BCCI said the shift was necessitated by certain requirements raised by local authorities and the state association that fell outside its established operational guidelines and protocols, without elaborating further.

KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya said the association had formally conveyed its readiness and strong interest in staging the playoff fixtures at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

He noted that KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad had remained in constant touch with the BCCI on the matter and had personally communicated the association’s preparedness.

Despite these efforts, Mruthyunjaya said the BCCI has not formally informed KSCA about the exact reasons behind allotting the matches to other venues.

He added that while the association was disappointed, it respected the BCCI’s authority to take such decisions.

Ahead of IPL 2026, KSCA, in collaboration with RCB and state authorities, had undertaken extensive infrastructure upgrades and security improvements at the Chinnaswamy Stadium following last year’s tragic stampede during RCB’s title celebrations, in which 11 people lost their lives.

Both the state government and the BCCI had subsequently cleared the venue for hosting matches after reviewing the enhanced arrangements.

The five league matches held in Bengaluru this season passed off without incident, with organisers receiving positive feedback for crowd control, security management and overall operational efficiency.

Mruthyunjaya said KSCA had also sent a detailed report to the BCCI outlining the venue’s preparedness and the systems put in place during the current season.

Despite missing out on the playoff fixtures, he reiterated that the association remains fully equipped to host matches of national and international significance and will continue extending full cooperation to all stakeholders.

International cricket is set to return to the Chinnaswamy later this year, with the venue scheduled to host the fifth T20I between India national cricket team and West Indies cricket team on October 17.

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The stadium will also stage the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka national cricket team on December 16.