New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has officially unveiled the playoff schedule for the Indian Premier League 2026, confirming that the grand finale will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31. In a notable change, the final was originally slated to take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, home of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, due to certain logistical and operational requirements beyond BCCI’s guidelines, the venue has been shifted, disappointing fans who had hoped to witness the title clash in Bengaluru.
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As per the schedule, Qualifier 1 — featuring the top two teams — will be played on May 26 at the HPCA Stadium, with a direct spot in the final at stake. The action will then move to the New International Cricket Stadium, 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 secure the second berth in the final. The BCCI stated that the playoffs will be conducted across three venues this season as a special arrangement, ensuring smooth operations and a grand build-up to the finale at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
