As the IPL final was shifted to Ahmedabad, some fans were disappointed, and IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal had to give an explanation on this. M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was about to host the final as RCB are the defending Champions.

IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal explained the reason why the final was shifted to Ahmedabad. The shift in venue has been a topic of debate for the last couple of days. BCCI had stated that Dharamshala and Chandigarh would host two qualifiers and the eliminator, with the final to be played at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.

Dhumal stated that last year’s stampede, the state government's decision to provide free tickets to local MLAs and KSCA’s promises to its members made the matter more challenging to handle.

 Dhumal stated that the final required a large number of tickets, given the tournament’s reputation, and that the ICC Board meeting was also on the same day, so a venue that could accommodate fans as well as delegates from abroad was required. Dhumal said the capacity of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium is limited, due to which fewer tickets were available even during league matches.

An IPL final is a big attraction for fans from across different parts of the world, keeping its popularity in mind. As a result, the BCCI wanted to keep a large stock of tickets exclusively for fans. Alongside this, a large number of members will attend the ICC board meeting.

Keeping the interests of the fans as well as the international delegates in mind, Ahmedabad was finalised as the venue for the final. Dhumal answered the criticism of Ahmedabad getting another chance to host the final after 2025, when the stadium hosted the final between RCB and PBKS.

Dhumal stated that the winning team is offered a chance to host the final, but due to the problems they came through, it was necessary to shift the final. He stated that if CSK had won the final in 2025, then MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai would surely have been fixed as the venue for the final this season, but it wasn’t feasible in the case of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

 HPCA stadium in Dharamshala will host the qualifier 1, while the eliminator and qualifier 2 will be played in New Chandigarh, followed by the final in Ahmedabad on the 31st of May.