IPL 2026: Bengaluru Loses Final to Ahmedabad, Deputy CM Reacts
Political drama unfolds as Karnataka's IPL final heads to Ahmedabad instead of Bengaluru.
Hold onto your hats, cricket fans! The IPL 2026 final is set to shift from the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to the bustling grounds of Ahmedabad, and Karnataka's Deputy CM, D. K. Shivakumar, has weighed in. Originally, Bengaluru was in the running, especially with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as the defending champions after their triumph in IPL 2025.
Shivakumar claims the move is all about maximising crowd capacity. "The IPL final must have been shifted with the intention that there is a big stadium in Ahmedabad and more people will gather," he stated, brushing off any links to the controversial ticket distribution to MLAs.
This decision has ignited a political firestorm in Karnataka, especially considering Shivakumar's previous assertions that the IPL would remain in Bengaluru. The shifting of such a marquee event raises questions about governance and the VIP culture that pervades Indian cricket.
As the IPL playoffs gear up, with Qualifier 1 kicking off on May 26, fans are left to wonder what this means for the future of cricket in Bengaluru. Will the city get its rightful place back in the IPL spotlight?
Topics
Did you like this article?