Shivakumar Criticizes IPL Final Move from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad as 'Unfair'

D K Shivakumar, the soon-to-be Chief Minister of Karnataka, expressed his dissatisfaction about the IPL final being shifted from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad. He described the decision as an 'injustice' to the state's youth after Bengaluru was initially slated to host the event as Royal Challengers Bengaluru were the defending champions.

Despite these circumstances, RCB secured their second IPL title with a victory over the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cited logistics and demands beyond local guidelines as reasons for moving the venue. Shivakumar emphasized preparations to prevent future occurrences of such venue changes and insisted that the BCCI's decision was influenced by Gujarat's influence.

Shivakumar recognized the disappointment among Karnataka fans who missed witnessing the final at home. However, he celebrated RCB's triumph and assured that the future remains promising for the team's success in the league. Discussions had been held earlier to distribute free tickets to MLAs, a move receiving criticism and reportedly unrelated to the venue change. The controversy was further fueled by past issues with ticket distribution and event logistics in Bengaluru.

(With inputs from agencies.)