Bengaluru Bowled Out: BCCI Unveils IPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule; Final Set for Ahmedabad

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the schedule for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Playoffs, marking the culmination of another exhilarating season.

According to the IPL statement, after 70 high-intensity league-stage matches defined by outstanding performances and edge-of-the-seat moments, the tournament now enters its decisive phase.

Qualifier 1, featuring the top two teams in the standings, will be played on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, with a direct berth in the Final at stake.

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, where the loser of Qualifier 1 will face 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 statement said.

Apart from last year, Ahmedabad has previously hosted the IPL finale in 2022 and 2023.

Owing to certain operational and logistical considerations, the IPL 2026 Playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special case.

The IPL statement further said, "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."

(With inputs from ANI)