Duleep Trophy 2026-27 final may move from Bengaluru CoE as BCCI explores spectator access
The BCCI is in talks with KSCA and TNCA to relocate the Duleep Trophy final from the Centre of Excellence so that spectators can attend the September showpiece.
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The BCCI is actively exploring the possibility of moving the Duleep Trophy 2026-27 final away from its originally scheduled venue, the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, in order to allow spectators to attend the match. The final was originally set to be held at the CoE from September 6 to 10 without any public attendance.
Government restrictions currently prohibit large crowds at the CoE campus. Only close relatives or associates of team members are permitted to attend matches held at the facility, which has limited the public's access to the tournament throughout its earlier rounds.
The Duleep Trophy 2026-27 gets underway on August 23, with six zonal teams competing across the tournament. The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled to be held at the CoE in Bengaluru, while the BCCI is now considering alternative venues for the final to allow fans to watch the game in person.
Which venues is the BCCI considering for the Duleep Trophy final?
The BCCI has identified two possible venues to host the final with spectators present. These are the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Both options would allow a significantly larger public attendance compared to what the CoE currently permits.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) was sounded out earlier this week and has agreed in principle to host the final at Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, a court ruling that followed a stampede outside the stadium last year binds the KSCA to extensive crowd management protocols if spectator numbers exceed 5,000. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) was also approached on Tuesday as the BCCI continued to weigh its options for a public-facing final.
"We will definitely look into the aspect of hosting the match with spectators; we still have time." BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
What is the next confirmed step in the venue decision process?
The BCCI has not yet announced a final decision on whether the Duleep Trophy final will be moved from the CoE. The board is continuing its discussions with both the KSCA and the TNCA to determine which venue, if either, can meet the logistical and regulatory requirements needed to host the match with spectators.
For the KSCA, any arrangement that brings more than 5,000 spectators into Chinnaswamy Stadium will require compliance with the court-mandated protocols put in place after last year's stampede incident. The BCCI will need to factor these obligations into its planning before confirming a venue change.
The tournament begins on August 23, and the final is scheduled to run from September 6 to 10, which means the board has a limited window to finalise the hosting arrangements.
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