NEW DELHI: The BCCI has detailed why Bengaluru was left out of the hosting plans for the IPL 2026 final, pointing to a ticketing dispute involving the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Board secretary Devajit Saikia said KSCA had requested a much larger number of complimentary passes than what the league’s standard protocol allows for the venue’s host body.
Why Bengaluru missed out on the IPL 2026 final
- Saikia said the IPL’s operating rules permit only 15% of a stadium’s total seating capacity to be reserved as complimentary tickets for the host association.
- He added that, under the same protocol, every host state association receives an allocation equivalent to 15% of its ground’s capacity in the form of complimentary tickets.
- Saikia stated the BCCI later received inputs suggesting KSCA had been seeking far more complimentary tickets during IPL league matches than the 15% limit.
- The board then wrote to KSCA to ask for clarifications and specific information related to the requested ticket numbers.
- Saikia said the BCCI was surprised by KSCA’s reply, which arrived by email on May 2.
- He claimed that KSCA’s response indicated that, in addition to the 15% complimentary-ticket quota, it would require a further substantial allocation for KSCA members, affiliated clubs, and other groups.
- Saikia said KSCA’s request also included complimentary tickets for local MLAs and MLCs, along with a demand for 700 complimentary tickets to the government of Karnataka.
- According to Saikia, these demands would amount to roughly 10,000 extra complimentary tickets over and above the 15% allocation.
With the final scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the other playoff matches are set to be hosted by Dharamshala and New Chandigarh. Saikia’s explanation links Bengaluru’s omission directly to the KSCA’s alleged attempts to secure ticket numbers beyond the league’s prescribed complimentary allocation.
Background: political ticket commitments in Karnataka
- Earlier in March, Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar had announced that each MLA would receive three free tickets for IPL games.
- He also said two complimentary tickets would be provided for international matches, with the option to purchase two more.
- Saikia noted the announcement followed discussions with KSCA representatives.
- The matter was later raised in the Karnataka Assembly after legislators complained about ticketing and seating arrangements at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
- Assembly speaker U T Khader then directed the state government to ensure that every MLA receives four VIP tickets for matches at the venue.
