Bengaluru Deprived, Not RCB: DK Shivakumar Questions IPL Final Shift After Ahmedabad Showpiece
Bengaluru may have celebrated another Indian Premier League title, but Karnataka Chief Minister-designate D. K. Shivakumar believes the state lost an opportunity when the IPL 2026 final was moved away from its capital.
Reacting to the venue change, Shivakumar said the issue was not about injustice to Royal Challengers Bengaluru but about missing a chance for cricket fans and young sports enthusiasts in Karnataka to witness the season’s biggest match in their own city.
The IPL final was originally expected to be hosted at Bengaluru’s home ground after RCB entered the season as defending champions. However, the championship clash was eventually shifted to Ahmedabad, with the title decider taking place at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Shivakumar remarked that while RCB ultimately achieved success on the field, the relocation of the final denied local supporters and aspiring young cricketers the opportunity to experience a marquee sporting event in Bengaluru. He added that the city had moved on from past controversies and was looking forward to a fresh chapter.
The venue decision had earlier sparked debate after officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India explained the rationale behind the shift. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia had stated that logistical and administrative considerations played a role in determining the final’s location.
Under IPL hosting norms, defending champions are generally entitled to host key playoff matches, including the final, at their home venue. That arrangement would have placed Bengaluru in line to stage the tournament’s biggest fixture following RCB’s championship-winning campaign last season.
Despite the controversy surrounding the venue, RCB ended the season on a high. Led by a match-winning unbeaten knock from Virat Kohli, Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad to successfully retain the IPL crown. The victory placed RCB alongside elite franchises that have managed to win consecutive IPL titles, further cementing their status as one of the league’s dominant teams in recent years.
