The defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will not be able to defend their title at home in the final of the IPL 2026, even if they qualify, as per a new announcement by the IPL Governing Council. The playoff venues for the tournament have been decided, with Qualifier 1 to be held at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on May 26, Qualifier 2 and Eliminator at Maharaja Yadvinder Singh Stadium in New Chandigarh on May 27 and May 29 respectively, and the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. The decision to move the final away from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been met with mixed reactions. The Narendra Modi Stadium, which also hosted the IPL 2025 final, will once again be the venue for the grand finale of the IPL 2026.
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