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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoff schedule has been officially announced by the BCCI, and soon after the release the Karnataka State Cricket Association expressed its disappointment over Bengaluru being left out of the knockout venues.

The playoffs will be staged across Dharamshala, New Chandigarh and Ahmedabad, with the final once again set to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31.

However, KSCA has raised concerns after not being allotted any of the playoff matches despite showing readiness to host high-profile fixtures.

IPL 2026 playoffs venues confirmed

The BCCI has locked in three venues for the knockout stage of IPL 2026, starting with the first qualifier in Dharamshala before moving to New Chandigarh for the Eliminator and Qualifier 2, while the grand finale will take place in Ahmedabad.

  • Qualifier 1: May 26 – HPCA Stadium
  • Eliminator: May 27 – Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium
  • Qualifier 2: May 29 – Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium
  • Final: May 31 – Narendra Modi Stadium

KSCA expresses disappointment

KSCA issued a statement expressing disappointment over the BCCI’s decision to shift the playoffs away from Bengaluru.

President Venkatesh Prasad had been in regular communication with the BCCI and had also confirmed the stadium’s readiness to host marquee playoff fixtures, including the final.

"At the outset, KSCA expresses its disappointment that the IPL Playoff matches have been allotted to other centres. President and legendary Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad was personally in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India in this regard and had also formally conveyed KSCA's preparedness, willingness, and keen interest in hosting the IPL Playoffs at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium," the statement added.

Why Bengaluru was left out

While the BCCI has not issued a detailed public explanation, the decision is understood to be linked to operational and safety considerations around hosting high-pressure knockout fixtures in Bengaluru.

Before the start of IPL 2026, there were reports suggesting that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium could host either a qualifier or even the final. However, those plans were never officially confirmed.

It is also worth noting that cricket had only recently returned to the venue after the stampede during IPL 2025 victory celebrations in June 2025, which tragically led to the loss of 11 lives and left several others injured, following which extensive safety and infrastructure reviews were carried out.

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