Why IPL 2025 final was shifted from Kolkata to Ahmedabad - and how it sparked BJP vs TMC battle

Eden Gardens, Kolkata (Image: IPL)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to move the IPL 2025 final from Kolkata’s Eden Gardens to Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium has sparked a fierce political clash, with West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP trading accusations over the reasons behind the shift, TOI reported.

The BCCI stated that the decision was made due to the “early onset of the southwest monsoon” in Kolkata. The final, originally scheduled for May 25, will now be played on June 3 in Ahmedabad.

However, West Bengal’s Sports Minister Aroop Biswas challenged this, pointing out that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had not yet issued forecasts for early June when the decision was made and asked how BCCI and the IPL governing council “turned into weathermen”, the Financial Express reported.

The political battle

According to a TOI report, the move quickly turned political. The controversy began after Junior Union Minister and Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar claimed in a now-deleted Facebook post that the shift was due to West Bengal’s “poor law and order situation” and a “collapsed administrative structure,” rather than the official reason of weather concerns cited by the BCCI.

The Bengal government hit back swiftly. Aroop Biswas dismissed the law and order claims, pointing out that Eden Gardens had successfully hosted seven league matches this season, each drawing crowds of 60,000 to 65,000 without incident. Biswas stated, adding that only a single match faced a security issue on Ram Naval, which was resolved and held in Kolkata as planned.

Majumdar doubled down, comparing Gujarat’s “good governance” to Bengal’s “appeasement politics”. In response, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed the BJP leader’s claims, stating that Sukanta Majumder is "totally lost" and emphasizing that there is no comparison between the law and order situation in West Bengal and the IPL finals. He further clarified that the decision to shift the IPL is up to the BCCI and insisted that it has no connection with the law and order situation in Bengal, India Today reported.

‘Gujarat bias’ allegations

The TMC accused the BCCI of favouring Gujarat, with party IT cell head Debangshu Bhattacharya asking, “Has India become Gujarat’s sole property? Why are all big matches in Ahmedabad?” He pointed out that Kolkata, home of the previous IPL champions, traditionally should have hosted the final, India Today quoted.

Meanwhile, Cricket Association of Bengal officials, including former India captain Sourav Ganguly, reportedly lobbied to retain the final in Kolkata but failed.

This will be the third IPL final in four years held at Narendra Modi Stadium. Critics point out that last year’s final there was rain-disrupted, requiring a reserve day.

What’s next?

This year’s IPL season has already faced disruptions, including a ten-day suspension following Operation Sindoor and the relocation of matches from border states due to security concerns. The revised playoff schedule now sees Qualifier 1 in New Chandigarh, with the second qualifier and the final in Ahmedabad on June 1 and 3, respectively.