IPL 2025 playoffs venue controversy: Manoj Tiwary hints at 'Ahmedabad lobby' after Eden Gardens snub

Mayank Bande

IPL 2025 playoffs venue controversy: Manoj Tiwary hints at 'Ahmedabad lobby' after Eden Gardens snub image

[BCCI/Sportzpics]

The second qualifier of the 2025 Indian Premier League faced a washout scare on the evening of June 1 as the rain played spoilsport as soon as the players took the field in Ahmedabad.

This is after Qualifier 2 and Final were shifted from Kolkata's Eden Gardens Stadium to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad due to a fear of rain interruptions.

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Pointing out that Ahmedabad is getting another big match hosted by the BCCI, the former Bengal and India batter, Manoj Tiwary, spoke about a potential ego battle between the Cricket Association of Bengal and Gujarat Cricket Association.

Earlier in the evening, fans had also pointed out of clear skies in Kolkata, adding to the disappointment of people.

READ MORE: PBKS vs MI IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 LIVE scorecard: Latest updates, result, highlights

IPL Playoffs: Manoj Tiwary takes a dig at Ahmedabad lobby over venue shifting

Talking to Gaurav Kapur on Cricbuzz's pre-match show, Tiwary found the situation hilarious as he referred the people at the GCA as bosses who would win any argument against CAB if the Qualifier 1 doesn't go through.

"If the rain does not allow the completion of the match — the secretaries of the two associations [CAB and GCA] would get into a battle. You had changed the venue citing rain and it rains here [in Ahmedabad] as well then it would be a battle but only these people [GCA] would win because they are the bosses," Tiwary took a sly.

Coming into the match, the men in blue, led by Hardik Pandya had to take a longer route to Qualifier 2 after finishing 4th in the table and beating Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator.

On the other hand, PBKS lost the first qualifier comprehensively at their own backyard and this would be their last opportunity to reach the final. They had defeated MI in their only face-off in the season on May 26 to seal the top-spot on the table.

Mayank Bande

Mayank Bande has been a content producer at The Sporting News since 2023 and has extensive experience in cricket writing. His work has previously appeared on platforms like OneCricket and Last Word on Sports. Beyond cricket, Mayank closely follows football as an FC Barcelona supporter, along with tennis and Olympic sports. Despite holding a degree in Business Administration, he chose to pursue a career in sports, bringing sharp analysis to his writing as someone who once played cricket.