 "The IPL 2025 final has been moved to Ahmedabad. Image: Reuters")
In a major update, the BCCI has reportedly finalised the venues for the IPL 2025 playoffs. Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) will host the first two playoff matches, Qualifier 1 on 29 May and the Eliminator on 30 May. The remaining two games, Qualifier 2 on 1 June and the Final on 3 June, will be played in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
According to ESPNcricinfo, these changes were made after the BCCI held a series of meetings on Tuesday to discuss the playoff venues and weather patterns across India during the time. Originally, Hyderabad and Kolkata were supposed to host the playoff matches but the plan has been revised due to predicted rain during the period. Cricbuzz also reported the same.
Earlier, there were reports that the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) were in talks with the BCCI about keeping the IPL playoff matches in Kolkata. Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said that the CAB will do everything possible to convince the apex body not to change the playoff venues.
When the BCCI announced the resumption of IPL 2025 last week, it did not reveal the venues for the playoffs. The BCCI had suspended the league due to India-Pakistan tensions. After the league resumed, reports emerged suggesting that the BCCI may change the venues for the playoffs because of predicted rain threat in Kolkata.
RCB vs SRH game moved to Lucknow
Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) match, originally scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on 23 May, has also been shifted due to bad weather. As per the report, the match has been moved to Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium. SRH played Lucknow Super Giants at the same venue on Monday and the BCCI reportedly asked them to stay there after a yellow alert was issued in Bengaluru.
RCB will now travel to Lucknow for their match against SRH. They were anyway going to Lucknow for their final league stage match against LSG on 27 May. RCB’s last home game against KKR was already washed out without a ball bowled. To avoid the risk of another match getting abandoned due to rain, the BCCI decided to move the SRH vs RCB game to Lucknow.