Karnataka chief minister-designate DK Shivakumar on Sunday questioned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for shifting the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad, calling it an injustice to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans.
Shivakumar's reaction to the venue change
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said, "RCB match should have been held in Bengaluru, injustice has been done to us." His remarks came after RCB defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, chasing down 156 runs in 18 overs.
BCCI's decision and reasons
The BCCI had earlier announced that Ahmedabad would host the IPL 2026 final on May 31, despite Bengaluru originally being designated as the venue. In an official media advisory issued on May 6, the BCCI stated, "Bengaluru was originally designated to host the Final. However, owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI's established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and reassigned."
According to a previous report by The Times of India, ongoing administrative issues regarding tickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium led to the final being shifted to Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, which had also hosted the IPL 2025 final.
RCB's historic win
With this victory, RCB successfully defended their IPL title after ending their trophy drought in 2025. The win also made them only the third team after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings to defend an IPL title consecutively.
Shivakumar congratulates the team
Following the win, Shivakumar congratulated the team in a social media post, saying, "RCB has created history by clinching a second consecutive IPL title. With grit, composure, and the heart of true champions, the team has once again made Bengaluru proud."
