Demand for 10,000 complimentary tickets, including quotas for MLAs and government officials, led to Bengaluru losing knockout hosting rights.
BENGALURU – In a move that has sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity, BCCI Joint Secretary Devajit Saikia has revealed the real reason behind shifting the high-profile IPL playoffs and final away from Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Saikia alleged that the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) made “unreasonable” demands for nearly 10,000 complimentary tickets, far exceeding the standard protocol, which forced the board to move the matches to New Chandigarh and Ahmedabad.
The controversy erupted after the BCCI broke the long-standing tradition of awarding the final to the home ground of the defending champions. According to Saikia, the impasse began when the KSCA insisted on a massive ticket quota for local politicians, government bodies, and club members, making it commercially and logistically impossible for the BCCI to host the knockouts in the city.
A Breach of Protocol
Under standard IPL protocol, the hosting state association is entitled to 15% of the total stadium capacity as complimentary tickets. However, Saikia claimed that the KSCA sought a significant increase beyond this threshold for the knockout stages.
“We were shocked to receive an email from the KSCA on May 2,” Saikia stated. “In addition to the 15%, they stated they would require a huge chunk for their members, clubs, and life members. Most surprisingly, we were asked to provide 900 tickets specifically for local MLAs and MLCs, and another 700 tickets for the Government of Karnataka.”
The BCCI had reportedly warned the KSCA as early as May 1, after noticing that the association had already exceeded the 15% limit during the league phase of the tournament. While state associations manage the league rounds, the BCCI assumes full control over the hosting rights for the playoffs and the final.
Safety Concerns and Political Pressure
The ticket row is not the first time the Chinnaswamy Stadium has faced scrutiny. The venue was under a safety audit earlier this year following a tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) title celebrations last year, which resulted in 11 deaths.
Furthermore, the stadium has recently been at the center of a tug-of-war between sporting ethics and political privilege. Local lawmakers had previously gone public with demands for VIP treatment and free access, a trend the BCCI appears keen to curb to maintain the professional integrity of the league.
Impact on Bengaluru Fans
The decision to move the final to Ahmedabad and a playoff to New Chandigarh has left the loyal RCB fanbase disappointed. Bengaluru, often regarded as one of the most vibrant cricketing hubs in India, will now miss out on the season’s most prestigious fixtures due to what the BCCI describes as the “unsustainable” demands of the local association.
The KSCA is yet to issue a formal rebuttal to Saikia’s specific allegations regarding the ticket distribution to government officials and MLAs.
