Karnataka MLA Accuses KSCA of Illegally Selling IPL 2026 Tickets
Allegations Against KSCA Regarding IPL Tickets
Congress MLA Kashappanavar Vijayananda Shivashankarappa has made serious accusations against the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), claiming they are engaging in the black market sale of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 tickets instead of distributing them to legislators and their families. The upcoming IPL match on March 28 has become a point of contention, as Shivashankarappa stated that MLAs and ministers, who are entitled to complimentary tickets, have been denied access to the event.
MLA's Frustration Over Ticket Distribution
In a statement to the media, Shivashankarappa expressed his discontent, stating, "An IPL match is set for the 28th of this month. The Karnataka State Cricket Association has failed to provide tickets for MLAs, ministers, and their families. They benefit from government facilities but do not show respect to the MLAs. They are not issuing tickets and are selling them illegally. A ticket priced at 5000 rupees is being sold for 35000 rupees."
BCCI Unveils IPL 2026 First Phase Schedule
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has previously released the schedule for the first phase of IPL 2026, which will take place from March 28 to April 12. The tournament's 19th edition will kick off with the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), facing off against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A total of 20 matches will be held across 10 venues during this phase.
Key Venues and Matches
The matches will be hosted in various cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. The tournament will feature four double-headers, with afternoon matches starting at 03:30 PM IST and evening matches at 07:30 PM IST. Following the opening match, the Mumbai Indians will compete against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. The first double-header is scheduled for April 4, 2026, featuring Delhi Capitals against Mumbai Indians in the afternoon at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, followed by Gujarat Titans versus Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Home Fixture Breakdown for Teams
Rajasthan Royals will kick off their home games in Guwahati, hosting both Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) will play their initial home matches at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. Throughout the season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will have five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur. Punjab Kings will host four matches in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will play three home games in Guwahati and four in Jaipur.