IPL 2026: The Indian Premier League has already entered its final phase, and the final will be played on 31st May at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. It’s the fourth time Ahmedabad has hosted the IPL final in the last five years. “Honestly, it doesn’t even feel surprising anymore,” said a cricket fan from Mumbai, reacting to the IPL 2026 final being once again scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium. For many supporters, it has become routine to plan travel to the familiar venue where another major cricket final will unfold. This marks the fourth IPL final in the last five seasons to be hosted in Ahmedabad, underlining a growing pattern in venue selection for the tournament’s biggest match. Traditionally, the reigning champions are granted the right to host the final. This year, that role would have gone to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, following their title win in 2025.
Why Always Ahmedabad?
However, in consecutive seasons, that hosting privilege has not been exercised at the home grounds of champions. The same was the case with Kolkata Knight Riders, winners in 2024, as their home venue at Eden Gardens was also bypassed for the final. As a result, what was once seen as a tradition of rewarding champions with home advantage is now being questioned, with Ahmedabad firmly established as the recurring stage for cricket’s biggest night.
Instead of M Chinnaswamy BCCI choosen Ahmedabad
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made its stance clear on why the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was not selected to host this year’s final. In an interview, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia pointed to concerns over the conduct of Karnataka’s political representatives, who were reportedly seeking around 10,000 complimentary tickets for the high-profile fixture.
This demand came in addition to the 15 per cent ticket quota already reserved for the state association by the BCCI for hosting rights. With close to 16,000 tickets out of a total 40,000 effectively spoken for even before general sales began, questions were raised within the board about whether the venue was suitable for such a marquee occasion.
Stampede was major Concern
Against this backdrop, the BCCI is believed to have reconsidered awarding the final to the venue, especially given a history of off-field controversies linked to ticket distribution and crowd management. Incidents such as the past stampede episode and renewed concerns over ticketing chaos at the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season further added to the scrutiny around the stadium’s readiness for hosting a major final.
IPL Is more than just a cricket
The Indian Premier League (IPL) became more than just a cricket tournament because every franchise carried the identity of its city with it. Chennai found its heartbeat at Chepauk. Mumbai’s energy revolved around the Wankhede. Kolkata’s passion echoed through Eden Gardens, while Bengaluru transformed the Chinnaswamy Stadium into a celebration every season.
That connection between teams, cities and home grounds played a huge role in shaping the league’s popularity. Supporters were not only backing players or franchises, they were standing behind their city, their culture and their stadiums, which gradually became symbols of the teams themselves. Even the tradition of rotating the IPL final across venues helped maintain that connection, giving different fanbases a chance to experience the tournament’s biggest occasion up close.
Why its not matching fans choice
That is also why the repeated shift towards Narendra Modi Stadium has left a section of fans uneasy. When the biggest matches consistently move towards one venue, the league risks losing some of the regional flavour that made it unique in the first place.In a country as vast and diverse as India, travelling from one city to another is not always simple or convenient. For many fans, it becomes disappointing when cricket’s grandest event stays away from their region year after year. There is no issue with having designated venues for major international fixtures, but the IPL was designed as a truly pan-Indian tournament. Preserving that balance is something the BCCI may now need to revisit moving forward.
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