Bigger Stadium, Not Ticket Politics Behind IPL Final Shift: Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has dismissed allegations that the IPL 2026 final was shifted from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad because of pressure from MLAs seeking match tickets, saying the decision was likely based on stadium capacity and logistics.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Shivakumar said Ahmedabad’s massive cricket stadium was probably the main reason behind the move. “Ahmedabad has a large stadium and can accommodate more spectators. That must be the reason the IPL final was shifted there. There is no connection between ticket distribution to MLAs and the venue change,” he clarified.

The controversy erupted after the BCCI announced that Ahmedabad would host the IPL final for the second straight year on May 31 . The board also confirmed Dharamsala as the venue for Qualifier 1, while New Chandigarh will stage the remaining playoff matches.

The decision disappointed many fans in Bengaluru, especially because Royal Challengers Bengaluru , the defending champions, were initially expected to host the final at home. Reports later surfaced claiming that demands for complimentary tickets from legislators had created complications, leading to speculation over the venue change.

The BCCI, while announcing the revised venues, said the shift was due to “certain requirements from the local association and authorities” that were outside the board’s established guidelines and protocols.

Reacting to those remarks, Shivakumar dismissed the controversy and maintained that the issue was being unnecessarily politicised. When reporters mentioned claims linking MLAs to the ticket issue, he sarcastically remarked that “in some places, 50 per cent of tickets are reserved.”