The final match of IPL will be hosted in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad for a second successive season on May 31, replacing the “originally designated” Bengaluru, the BCCI announced on Wednesday. Qualifier 1 game will take place in Dharamsala, and the two other playoff games will take place in New Chandigarh.

Bengaluru was to host the final, going by convention as Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions. Apart from last year, Ahmedabad has previously hosted the IPL finale in 2022 and 2023.

Sources in the BCCI said Ahmedabad was preferred because of its massive capacity, which would ensure higher footfalls. It is also learnt that the Board does not agree with the Karnataka government’s decision to have a quota of three complimentary IPL tickets each for the state’s MLAs, MLCs and MPs this season given the relatively low capacity of the venue.

“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,” the Board stated in a press release without specifying the exact requirements in the Karnataka capital.

The Board also said it is increasing the playoff stage venues to three as a special case this year “owing to certain operational and logistical considerations.” “Qualifier 1, featuring the top two teams in the standings, will be played on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, with a direct berth in the Final at stake,” the BCCI stated in the press release.

“The action will then move to the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, which will host the Eliminator on May 27 between the third and fourth-placed teams. The same venue will also stage Qualifier 2 on May 29,” it added.

Dharamsala would be hosting an IPL playoff game for the first time.

Qualifier 2 will feature the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator to determine the second finalist.

“The season will conclude with the grand Final on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — the world’s largest cricket stadium — setting the stage for a spectacular finale,” the Board said.

Playoffs Schedule:

Qualifier 1 – May 26 – HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala Eliminator – May 27 – New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh

Qualifier 2 – May 29 – New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh Final – May 31 – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.