M Chinnaswamy Stadium will host five matches in IPL 2026 (Reutters Photo)

Bengaluru unlikely to host IPL final over MLA ticket issue

IPL 2026: BCCI is reconsidering Bengaluru as host for the IPL 2026 play-offs and final amid a political row over MLA tickets. The uncertainty revives questions over venue management as RCB remain firmly in contention.

05 May 2026, 12:10 by Naman Suri · India Today

In Short

BCCI is weighing alternative venues as uncertainty clouds Chinnaswamy for play-offs
Customarily, defending champions host the final, but Bengaluru faces political disruption
MLA demands for complimentary tickets triggered the row earlier this season

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) home M Chinnaswamy is unlikely to host the Indian Premier League final and play-off games as the Board of Control for Cricket mulls over the uncertainty surrounding the venue. BCCI is expected to announce the venues for the fast approaching play-offs and final soon.

As per an ANI report, BCCI is unlikely to split the matches between the home ground of last season’s finalist over complications surrounding M Chinnaswamy. This means that this could prevent Bengaluru to host the much-anticipated finals, which their side RCB is in contention for.

The convention for the IPL final is for the defending champions to host the match. However, political issues in Bengaluru, particularly related to MLA tickets, are currently causing disruptions. This also comes following the city’s ineffectiveness in handling the victory parade last season, which resulted in multiple deaths.

“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,” the report quoted the source as saying.

Last year, the final was shifted from Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on account of potential weather disruptions and other logistical concerns following the India-Pakistan border tensions threatened to convert into a full-blown war.

BCCI mulling over IPL final venue (Screen grab from X)

WHAT IGNITED THE CONTROVERSY?

Earlier in the season, Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar publicly demanded that elected representatives be given multiple complimentary tickets for IPL matches. His argument was that MLAs are “VIPs” and should not have to stand in queues like regular fans.

The matter escalated enough for Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to step in. A compromise was announced, with three complimentary tickets allocated to each MLA, MLC and MP for matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

However, even that did not fully calm the situation. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara clarified that the tickets are non-transferable and can only be used by the MLAs themselves or their family members, pushing back against concerns of misuse.

RCB currently sit second in the table with 12 points from nine games

- Ends