BCCI to consider moving Duleep Trophy final to stadium, increases live domestic coverage: Saikia

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on Sunday at the BCCI Centre of Excellence said the board would examine relocating this season's Duleep Trophy final from the CoE to a stadium and has increased the number of domestic matches to be telecast live; the Duleep Trophy is scheduled from August 23 to September 10 at the CoE.

The 2026-27 domestic season opens with the Duleep Trophy at the BCCI CoE, where general spectators are not permitted because the facility is subject to restrictions that prevent crowds from being accommodated. Saikia spoke to select media at the CoE and was joined by BCCI president Mithun Manhas, VVS Laxman and joint secretary Prabhtej Singh. While the venue is hosting the tournament, its access limitations have shaped the board's planning for fan access and coverage.

Saikia described the legal constraint on spectators and framed it as a government-imposed condition, saying: "There are some restrictions while this land was adopted here... that we cannot have a crowd in this campus. So, that is a government restriction. We cannot violate that," he said.

On spectator access for team entourages and broadcast plans, Saikia said: "But people very close to the team members can come. But this year, we have increased the number of matches to be telecast live. That way, we are giving the fans to watch their favourite players and teams performing in the ring properly," Saikia added.

Saikia confirmed the BCCI will explore the logistics of staging the final at a stadium as a possible solution to the CoE's crowd restrictions and asked for input from stakeholders. He said: "That is one way, and we will definitely appreciate your suggestions on whether the final can be hosted in a stadium or not. We still have time. We'll look into that aspect. If required, we'll do that," he said.

With the tournament set at the CoE under current access limits, the board has increased live telecasts compared with last season to provide fans more real-time viewing; Saikia reiterated that approach by saying, "But for the time being, what we have done is to increase the number of matches which are live telecasted from last year."