Duleep Trophy final may shift from Bengaluru CoE, spectators likely to be allowed

The Duleep Trophy final, originally slated to take place at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on the outskirts of Bengaluru, may be relocated to either the M Chinnaswamy Stadium or MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, according to reports. Spectators are now likely to be permitted at the final, which is set to commence on August 23 with six teams participating.

The quarterfinals and semifinals will still be held at the CoE. The final, originally scheduled to be played from September 6-10 at the CoE, is a venue known for matches being held behind closed doors. Devajit Saikia, BCCI secretary, expressed during a recent visit to the CoE that they would "definitely look into the aspect of hosting the match with spectators; we still have time."

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has been approached regarding hosting the finale, but a potential obstacle may arise due to a court ruling following last year’s stampede outside the stadium. This ruling may require the state association to adhere to stringent protocols if spectator numbers exceed 5000. Consequently, the cricket board also sought the involvement of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) as they continue to explore the possibility of hosting the final with spectators.