A last-minute venue switch, a furious cricket body, and the question that still lingers—why did Wankhede lose its final?
Can tradition really be thrown away in an instant? During the exciting IPL summer of 2014, something unexpected happened—not on the field, but away from it.
Just days before the grand final, the governing council made a surprising announcement: the Wankhede Stadium, the home of the defending champions, the Mumbai Indians, would no longer host the final match. Instead, the event was relocated to Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium. This decision sparked quite a bit of outrage!
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Until the first day of June 2014, it was a cherished tradition for the reigning champion's home ground to host the final. The Mumbai Indians had proudly claimed IPL 2013, meaning Wankhede was all set to be the stage for the exciting summit clash of IPL 7. However, that plan was unexpectedly thrown into chaos on May 3, when a rather unusual incident disrupted the IPL's inner workings.
On that day, as the MI faced off against Kings XI Punjab, key figures from the IPL Governing Council, including interim chief Sunil Gavaskar, found themselves unable to enter the MCA premises.
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Security had been significantly tightened at Wankhede for this high-profile matchup, and rather strangely, even officials from the BCCI faced obstacles in gaining access. It took some intense calls and a flurry of back-and-forth before they were finally allowed in, but sadly, the damage had already been done.
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The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) was quite surprised by the switch. They quickly organised emergency meetings where top officials expressed their frustrations, calling it a unilateral and unfair decision with a hint of political motivation. They promptly sent a letter to the IPL chairman requesting clarification.
However, when responses finally arrived, they left a lot to be desired, coming across as quite vague. The MCA was confident they met all the requirements to host the final. They even went the extra mile to comply with the conditions they understood to be in place. Yet, the governing council remained firm in its stance.
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The IPL's defence really comes down to practicality. Officials pointed out cost concerns—Mumbai Police reportedly asked for ₹50 lacks for matchday security, while Bengaluru offered less than half that amount.
Additionally, another official mentioned that Bengaluru provided better hospitality options for the guests and dignitaries expected at the final. However, when you look closer, the Wankhede snub might have some personal undertones.
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In the end, the dust settled, but the bruise lingered. The final unfolded at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, just as planned, on June 1, and what a thrilling spectacle it was!
Kings XI Punjab soared to new heights with Wriddhiman Saha's incredible unbeaten 115, marking him the first player to hit a century in an IPL final. KXIP set an impressive target of 199 for 4.
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However, undeterred by the pressure, the Kolkata Knight Riders chased it down in a remarkable 19.3 overs. Manish Pandey was outstanding, leading the effort with a dazzling 94 off 50. Despite spinner Karanveer Singh's impressive 4 for 54, KKR's powerful batting lineup came through, securing their victory by three wickets and celebrating their second IPL title!
