BCCI considers Bengaluru or Chennai as venues for Duleep Trophy final

Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium are being considered to host the Duleep Trophy final from Sept. 6 to 10. The match had originally been scheduled to be held behind closed doors at the Centre of Excellence on the outskirts of Bengaluru, but the BCCI has explored staging at least the final with spectators present.

The opening two rounds of the tournament are set to be played at the Centre of Excellence as planned, from Aug. 23 to 26 and Aug. 30 to September 2, respectively, without supporters. The Centre of Excellence is located on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Rajat Patidar guided Central Zone to Duleep Trophy triumph last season.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association has expressed its readiness to host the marquee match. The BCCI has also sounded out Chennai as an alternative venue. Those approaches have placed both the M. Chinnaswamy and the M.A. Chidambaram in contention to stage the final.

The consideration of moving the final follows a recent assurance from BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia that "the governing body would try its best to conduct the summit clash in front of fans." Saikia made that assurance before venues were being finalised.

The tournament will proceed with the opening rounds at the Centre of Excellence on Aug. 23 to 26 and Aug. 30 to September 2 without supporters, while a decision on the final’s venue is being explored for the Sept. 6 to 10 summit clash.