'Will ensure Gujarat doesn't take our match again': D K Shivakumar over shift in IPL final venue

He indirectly accused higher authorities, referring to them as "Gujarat people" of using influence and taking the big match away from the southern city. Shivakumar said that sports fans in Karnataka were wronged, adding that the team had made everyone proud.

Karnataka chief minister-designate D K Shivakumar on Monday stressed on the fact that the IPL 2026 final, which Royal Challengers Bengaluru won at Ahemdabad on Sunday, was supposed to be held in Bengaluru, adding that such a shift would not happen again.

He indirectly accused higher authorities, referring to them as "Gujarat people" of using influence and taking the big match away from the southern city.

"The IPL final was supposed to be held in Bengaluru. We had given permission for it. But the Gujarat people used their influence and took the match away from us. We are making the necessary preparations to ensure this doesn't happen again — it will take some time."

Shivakumar said that sports fans in Karnataka were wronged, adding that the team had made everyone proud.

"Our sports fans may have been wronged. The team representing our state played well and won. They have made all of us proud. On behalf of the people of Karnataka, I congratulate them," Shivakumar said.

Moments after RCB's victory on Sunday, the former deputy chief minister of the state Shivakumar lashed out at IPL organisers for shifting the venue of the final to Gujarat, saying it was an injustice to Karnataka, and alleged the move was politically motivated.

"The IPL final match should have happened in Bengaluru. Injustice has been done to us. Due to politics, they held it at a different venue. I won't speak much on it," he said.

According to a BCCI announcement, the final was shifted out of Bengaluru after the after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) allegedly sought thousands of complimentary tickets beyond the permitted quota.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had said the decision to move key knockout matches away from Bengaluru was linked to KSCA’s reported demand for an additional 10,000 tickets during league-stage matches.

Under IPL rules, host state associations are entitled to complimentary tickets amounting to 15 per cent of a stadium’s seating capacity.

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium had originally been in contention to host one playoff fixture and the final, especially with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru based in the city. However, the BCCI later allocated Qualifier 1 to Dharamshala, the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 to New Chandigarh, and the final to Ahmedabad.