Hyderabad to host IPL final as Chennai is deposed

The MA Chidambaram Stadium was due to stage the match on May 12 but three stands at the ground will remain closed

The Indian Premier League final has been moved to Hyderabad after the MA Chidambaram Stadium failed to secure permission to open three stands at the ground.

Home of 2018 runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will now host the showcase game on May.

Chennai Super Kings earned the right to host the final and a playoff fixture virtue of winning last year's IPL.

But areas of their ground have been locked by the Greater Chennai Corporation since 2012 after they were renovated without permission for the World Cup.

Special dispensation was obtained for the one-day international against Pakistan in December of that year, and there were hopes the local authority would soften their stance.

IPL HUB

However, with the prospect of large swathes of the 50,000-capacity ground being empty for one of the biggest fixtures on the calendar, an alternative venue has been sought.

IPL officials are conscious of there being empty seats in the full view of a global television audience.

Chennai will host Qualifier 1 on May 7, while Vishakapatnam will stage the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 on May 8 and 10.

Mumbai and Benagluru were considered as alternative venues but the short time frame and the ongoing Indian general elections saw such plans derailed.