IPL 2019 final shifted to Hyderabad from Chennai
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai has been stripped of the opportunity to host 2019 IPL final which has now been shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. TNCA failed to get the clearances to operate the three closed stands (I, J and K) in the stadium which has led to the BCCI taking the call. Generally, the IPL final is hosted by the home venue of the defending champions, which in this case were the Chennai Super Kings.
Chennai will still get to host the Qualifier 1 in the playoffs which will allow CSK to seal a spot in the final at their home venue if they end up in the top two positions on the table. Eliminator 1 and Qualifier 2 will be hosted by Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on May 8 and May 10 respectively. The final will be held in Hyderabad on May 12.
The three stands have not been in operation since 2012 except for an India-Pakistan encounter in the same year as the construction of the stands did not meet the guidelines set by Chennai Corporation. The closure of the three stands has meant that the capacity of the stadium has been reduced by 12,000 seats.
Vinod Rai, the chief of CoA told PTI on the decision to shift the final:
“We had to shift the matches from Chennai to Hyderabad after TNCA intimated us that they have not procured the requisite permission to open the three stands I, J and K. Since the gate sales of the knock-out matches is BCCI’s prerogative, we had to take a call. We would be having two knock-out matches in Vizag. CSK, by virtue of being defending champions, were allotted the Qualifier 1 and final. Now if they finish in the top two, you cannot take away all the games. They deserve to get at least one of the knock-out games.”
The 2019 edition of the tournament is now in its final phase, with all the 8 teams in with a shot to qualify for the playoffs spot. DC currently, sit atop the table followed by CSK, MI and SRH who round up the top four spots.
