Why Eden Gardens Is Losing Big Finals To Ahmedabad? Weather or Political Reasons? In the past year, two major cricket events—the IPL 2025 Final and earlier debates surrounding the 2026 T20 World Cup final—have hinted that Eden Gardens is losing ground for major finals and considerable revenue to Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The IPL 2025 final had its original home at Kolkata’s iconic stadium but eventually moved to Motera, raising many questions as to why.
Weather and Scheduling Risks
The official reasons involved the weather. The IPL 2025 season was interrupted midway due to political unrest. Delaying the final to the latter half of June, when Kolkata faced a 60–65% chance of rain, with the southwest monsoon capping at the city’s border. Ahmedabad had a 2-3% chance of rain. While broadcasters were concerned with the risk of rain delays, which would have an impact on viewership around the world, the BCCI perceived moving the final to Ahmedabad as the “safer” decision. Officials indicated Eden’s drainage system cannot guarantee that a washout won’t happen.
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Logistics, Finance, and Politics
The Narendra Modi Stadium has its own benefits, not least of which is its capacity and modern amenities, which support more than 130,000 fans. Broadcasters and sponsors also benefit from the increased revenues and spectacle. Moreover, relocating the gear and teams to a single, large, and central hub mitigated logistics in an already tight schedule.
However, the move quickly took on a political hue, with leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC)—including Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas—leveling charges against the BJP-led Union government and the BCCI for deliberately sidelining Eden Gardens in favor of Gujarat. According to their charges, this decision was not purely sporting in nature but was weighed heavily by political considerations. The BCCI rejected the allegations, with its vice-president, Rajeev Shukla, insisting the move was only made with bad weather in mind and established scheduling considerations.
| Stadium | Last Major Tournament Hosted |
|---|---|
| Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 2016 ICC T20 World Cup Final |
| 2023 ODI World Cup Semi-final | |
| IPL Playoffs (multiple years) | |
| Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 2023 ODI World Cup Final |
| IPL 2022 Final | |
| IPL 2023 Final | |
| IPL 2025 Final | |
| 2026 ICC T20 World Cup |
Tradition versus Modern Considerations
Eden Gardens—a ground with a century-old heritage and unrivaled atmosphere—is the emotional home of Indian cricket. Losing the final was not just a financial concern for Kolkata supporters, but emotional, too. But the administrators insist that modern cricket requires pragmatism—risk management, weather forecasts, and financial safety have eclipsed emotional goodwill.
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Why not any other Indian stadium?
Ahmedabad has evolved into India’s go-to finals venue with its capacity of 1.32 lakh, world-class facilities, and minimal risk of monsoon rains. While both Mumbai (Wankhede) and Bengaluru (Chinnaswamy) can host many fans, Ahmedabad can host much more than twice the capacity. Chennai is often affected by high rainfall, while Delhi suffers from scorching heat and a lack of space. Ahmedabad benefits from its central location, logistics, and political backing, allegedly from the BJP. With the 2022 IPL Final, 2023 ODI World Cup Final, and IPL 2025 Final being scheduled there, the city is viewed as the most certain option.
