IPL: Power play begins over shifting of final from Eden to Ahmedabad

The BCCI move to shift the IPL 2025 final from Kolkata to Ahmedabad earlier this week, ostensibly due to rain forecast, has become subject of a political powerplay. While the Indian board has cited ‘weather conditions’ for shifting the second qualifier (1 June) and final (3 June) to Narendra Modi Stadium, what gave the Bengal state government an added leverage was a claim by  Union minister Sukanta Majumdar that the matches were shifted due to ‘law and order’ concerns.

Two days after the formal announcement by BCCI, the state sports minister Arup Biswas convened a press conference to call the move ‘politically motivated’ and released a data about Eden Gardens’ track record on quick turnaround of matches after the rains. Soon after the press conference, Majumdar – who is also the state president of Bharatiya Janata Party - deleted his post on X  where he had mentioned law and order issues as the reason behind the matches being moved.

 Speaking at the press conference at Nabanna on Thursday, Trinamool minister Biswas asserted: “There is no better stadium than Eden Gardens. Even if it rains, matches can resume within half an hour — no other stadium in India offers this facility. Yet, the final has been shifted to Ahmedabad under the guise of weather concerns. This is just an excuse. It seems pre-decided that no final will be held anywhere but Ahmedabad. In the last four years, three finals have taken place at the Narendra Modi Stadium."

He further criticised the justification given by the BCCI, stating that even the weather department cannot forecast conditions for 1 to 4 June yet and presented data from Indian Meterological Society in support of his claim.

 Incidentally, hosts Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which had earlier pleaded with BCCI to adhere to the decision of keeping the final at the Eden – has maintained a discreet silence.  Those in the know feel that the CAB’s silence is ‘understandable’ as with the next T20 World Cup, scheduled in India and Sri Lanka in 2026, the historic Kolkata venue will not want to queer the pitch in the way of staging some plum matches again. During the 2023 World Cup, Eden hosted five matches including a India game and the second semi-final.

The sports minister, however, was quick to seize the opportunity on Majumdar’s claims of security concerns. “BCCI and the IPL governing council haven’t cited security issues. These are just excuses. The real intent is to deprive Bengal,’’ before adding: ‘’As the sports minister of Bengal, I protest this decision. Ask the CAB’s secretary and president why they haven’t spoken out. The CAB should have protested.’’

Manoj Verma, police commissioner, said at the briefing: “There has never been any law and order issue at Eden Gardens. Seven matches were held smoothly this season. Historically, matches in Kolkata have always been conducted peacefully. Any suggestion otherwise is baseless and seems driven by another agenda.’’