'KSCA asked for extra 10,000 tickets': BCCI on why Bengaluru missed IPL 2026 final hosting rights

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said Bengaluru missed out on hosting the IPL 2026 playoffs and final after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) allegedly sought thousands of complimentary tickets beyond the permitted quota.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the decision to move key knockout matches away from Bengaluru was linked to KSCA’s reported demand for an additional 10,000 tickets during league-stage matches. Under IPL rules, host state associations are entitled to complimentary tickets amounting to 15% of a stadium’s seating capacity.

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium had originally been in contention to host one playoff fixture and the final, especially with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru based in the city. However, the BCCI later allocated Qualifier 1 to Dharamshala, the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 to New Chandigarh, and the final to Ahmedabad.

A day after the revised venues were announced and KSCA expressed disappointment over Bengaluru losing out, Saikia explained the board’s position. Speaking to ANI, he said the BCCI had received inputs from multiple sources suggesting that the number of complimentary tickets being sought during IPL league matches was far above the prescribed limit.

According to Saikia, when the BCCI sought clarification from KSCA, the state association formally requested around 10,000 extra tickets in addition to the quota already allowed under IPL norms.