The much-awaited IPL 2026 is set to begin today amid controversy over free tickets for the Indian Premier League 2026 season opener at MLA. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru amid much displeasure among fans who called out “VIP culture”.
Social media reacted strongly after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that MLAs will be given two free tickets instead of 4 for the legislators’ family members to attend the first match of IPL 2026.
Reaction on social networks
A user wrote: “Karnataka politicians (MLAs/MPs) are asking for around ~1000 total free IPL tickets for their families… all openly on camera. Meanwhile, regular fans are fighting in queues and websites just to get one ticket. Can’t they queue like everyone else? Or are the rules only for public and not for VIPs? What a joke this VIP culture has become a joke 😹.”
Another user commented, “Chinnaswamy stadium is totally chaotic in all aspects. Getting an IPL ticket is almost impossible in this stadium unlike all other IPL venues. In the early days it was easily available online and at the counters, but now it seems that there is a big scam and fans never get the tickets in the normal process but they are available at a huge price in the black process. Instead of people looking for free tickets, they should ensure that for people to get free tickets.”
A third comment read: “These newly established feudal mentalities should be fully exposed to the people who elected them to these posts on the promise of service. This is reminiscent of the Arab and the camel.”
A fourth user said, “They even get free tickets for their families at tax payer’s expense. Common people in Karnataka are busy arguing over language. It’s so pathetic. In India we give all the privileges to the privileged and leave the downtrodden with lifelong struggles and contempt.”
Harsh Goenka, Lalit Modi slam Siddaramaiah-led government over demand for free IPL 2026 tickets
RPG Group chairman Harsh Goenka slammed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state: “We cannot stand in queues like the general public,” say our elected representatives. Yet it is this very public that lines up to vote them into power, pays for the system they enjoy, and is now being told that equality ends where privilege begins.
Criticizing the Karnataka government, former IPL chairman Lalit Modi called the demand “absolute nonsense” and said: “This is absolute nonsense. Why should they be privileged. It’s the fan who made @IPL into an unelected representative. Yet they want it as their birthright. In an Asian country, a minister was recently sacked for taking two free tickets from an event organizer as a gift to an important sporting event.”
BJP’s Tejasvi Surya hit out at Congress officials, alleging that they forced Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Venkatesh Prasad to give in to their demands. Alleging a feudal approach to law, he said, “Why should the KSCA or any other sports body compulsorily provide free tickets to MLAs or any political leaders and their families? It makes no sense… This culture of VIPs and entitlements has to end,” ANI reported.
On 26 March, UT Speaker Khader ordered the government to provide four VIP IPL 2026 tickets to each MLA after several MLAs, including Leader of Opposition R Ashoka of the BJP, complained that they were given only one ticket and were not provided with proper seating during the matches.
After a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after RCB’s IPL victory last year, preparations are in full swing in Bengaluru for the start of the IPL.
