BCCI shifts Duleep Trophy final from Bengaluru CoE to Chennai to admit spectators

The BCCI has moved this season’s Duleep Trophy final from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on the outskirts of Bengaluru to Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium to allow spectators, the decision announced on August 20, 2026 follows last season’s tournament being held behind closed doors.

At the CoE during matchdays last year small groups of spectators gathered near the gates hoping to watch domestic players but were often refused entry by security, an experience that left many would-be attendees waiting outside before eventually leaving. On one occasion a person claiming to be a player’s relative made several phone calls and waited for hours before finally being permitted inside, a sequence described in accounts of the matches held at the venue.

Instances of restricted access extended beyond the CoE: when Karnataka hosted Kerala in a Ranji Trophy match at the Alur grounds, spectators who wanted to see Sanju Samson were not allowed into the venue. Those episodes formed part of the rationale cited for re-evaluating the choice of location for the Duleep Trophy final.

When asked why spectators could not attend matches at the CoE, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the Board would consider moving the final; around 10 days after that statement the Board decided to relocate the match to Chennai. The shift was explicitly framed as a move to accommodate an audience rather than maintain closed-door arrangements.

Organisers and commentators pointing to the change stressed the role of supporters in First Class cricket, noting that crowd response can provide an emotional lift to players in matches outside the IPL and international fixtures. The commentary accompanying the venue change emphasised the practical and atmospheric benefits of having spectators inside stadia for domestic competitions.

The Duleep Trophy was described in the accounts as a competition that, despite lacking the glamour of franchise and international tournaments, has for generations served as a stepping stone to the national team; those observations were used to argue that fans deserve to be part of the domestic players’ progression. The decision to move the final was presented as an attempt to restore spectator access to that pathway.

With the relocation confirmed, the Duleep Trophy final will be played at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai with spectators admitted, reflecting the Board’s reversal of the closed-door approach used at the CoE.