The vice-president for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Rajeev Shukla has clarified as to why the IPL 2025 final was shifted from Kolkata to Ahmedabad. Following the suspension of the league for 7 days, the ultimate clash was shifted out of the West Bengal capital citing weather conditions. A lot of criticism has been directed at the board over shifting the contest to the Narendra Modi stadium after rain delaying the Qualifier 2 between MI and PBKS on Sunday.
BCCI defends shifting IPL 2025 final
Speaking to news agency ANI, BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla claimed that the decision to shift the IPL 2025 final to Ahmedabad from Kolkata was not politically motivated. He pointed out that had there not been escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, then the final would have been held in Kolkata as per the original schedule.
“People should not look for any politics here, the matches that have been shifted. This decision was not politically motivated. Had the IPL been held on its schedule, had there not been an India-Pakistan conflict and had IPL not been postponed for a week, then final would have been held on 25th May in Kolkata itself and the playoffs in Hyderabad,” Shukla said.
Further, he noted that it was due to the weather forecast that the clash was shifted out of Kolkata. The BCCI VP claimed that the broadcaster has insisted on venues like Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad to host the IPL 2025 playoffs as rainfall was less likely and they would suffer lesser losses.
“After the schedule was changed, the weather conditions started having an impact. Broadcaster too said that the weather in Kolkata is predicted to be bad on the said days, there is likely to be rainfall, the match can be washed out and they would suffer heavy losses. They requested a venue where the rainfall is less likely,” he added.
Shukla stated that based on the weather reports, the IPL 2025 playoffs were shifted from Kolkata and Hyderabad. He noted that it had been done so in the past too, adding that the inaugural ceremony for IPL 2025 was held in Kolkata itself.
“Through weather reports, it was found that the rainfall was less likely in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. So, the matches were rescheduled, from Hyderabad too. It was not just about Kolkata. We had to change venue many times in the past as well. So, this is nothing new…So, there is no political conspiracy here…Inaugural ceremony was held in Kolkata,” he said.
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