MLA ticketing row a facade, Ahmedabad has bigger stadium: DK Shivkumar
IPL 2026: DK Shivakumar rejected claims Bengaluru lost the IPL final because of MLA ticket distribution. The episode raised fresh questions over BCCI transparency as Ahmedabad secured the showpiece all over again.
Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has hit back at reports that Bengaluru will not host the final of the Indian Premier League this season, citing operational and logistical considerations behind the venue shift. Bengaluru has lost hosting rights not only for the final but also for all playoff matches, despite the long-standing IPL convention of defending champions hosting the title clash.
This comes amid reports suggesting that Bengaluru missed out on hosting the much-anticipated final due to political issues in the city, particularly related to MLA ticket distribution. However, in its statement, the Karnataka State Cricket Association said that the exact reasons behind the venue shift were never formally communicated.
“The IPL final must have been shifted with the intention that there is a big stadium in Ahmedabad and more people will gather. There is nothing to do with the distribution of tickets to MLAs and the shifting of the final match. 50% will be reserved elsewhere,” Shivakumar said, as quoted by ANI.
The convention for the IPL final is for the defending champions to host the match. Last year, the final was shifted from Eden Gardens due to potential weather disruptions and other logistical concerns, following India-Pakistan border tensions that threatened to escalate into a full-blown conflict.
Following an advisory from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, KSCA expressed disappointment after Bengaluru missed out on hosting the IPL 2026 playoffs and final, despite originally being designated as the venue for the summit clash.
“KSCA President and legendary Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad was personally in touch with the BCCI in this regard and had also formally conveyed KSCA’s preparedness, willingness, and keen interest in hosting the IPL playoffs at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium,” the KSCA statement read.
“The IPL matches conducted in Bengaluru during the current season were widely appreciated for their smooth execution, crowd management, operational efficiency, and overall spectator experience, reaffirming KSCA’s capability to successfully host marquee fixtures of such scale and importance,” it added.
The move also means Narendra Modi Stadium will host the IPL final for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
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Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has hit back at reports that Bengaluru will not host the final of the Indian Premier League this season, citing operational and logistical considerations behind the venue shift. Bengaluru has lost hosting rights not only for the final but also for all playoff matches, despite the long-standing IPL convention of defending champions hosting the title clash.
This comes amid reports suggesting that Bengaluru missed out on hosting the much-anticipated final due to political issues in the city, particularly related to MLA ticket distribution. However, in its statement, the Karnataka State Cricket Association said that the exact reasons behind the venue shift were never formally communicated.
“The IPL final must have been shifted with the intention that there is a big stadium in Ahmedabad and more people will gather. There is nothing to do with the distribution of tickets to MLAs and the shifting of the final match. 50% will be reserved elsewhere,” Shivakumar said, as quoted by ANI.
The convention for the IPL final is for the defending champions to host the match. Last year, the final was shifted from Eden Gardens due to potential weather disruptions and other logistical concerns, following India-Pakistan border tensions that threatened to escalate into a full-blown conflict.
Following an advisory from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, KSCA expressed disappointment after Bengaluru missed out on hosting the IPL 2026 playoffs and final, despite originally being designated as the venue for the summit clash.
“KSCA President and legendary Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad was personally in touch with the BCCI in this regard and had also formally conveyed KSCA’s preparedness, willingness, and keen interest in hosting the IPL playoffs at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium,” the KSCA statement read.
“The IPL matches conducted in Bengaluru during the current season were widely appreciated for their smooth execution, crowd management, operational efficiency, and overall spectator experience, reaffirming KSCA’s capability to successfully host marquee fixtures of such scale and importance,” it added.
The move also means Narendra Modi Stadium will host the IPL final for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
