KSCA to Increase M Chinnaswamy Stadium Capacity After Losing IPL 2026 Final Hosting Rights
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) giving too many free tickets to MLAs and MLCs was not the only reason the BCCI took away the hosting rights of the IPL 2026 final from them. KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad has hinted that M. Chinnaswamy Stadium’s seating capacity played a role in the BCCI’s decision to move the IPL 2026 final to the Narendra Modi Stadium. Currently, the Bengaluru Stadium can hold 40,000 spectators but was capped to 28,000 this season.
Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad venue can hold an audience of 132,000. Therefore, the KSCA is redeveloping the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to increase the spectator capacity. In the launch event for the Maharaja Trophy and Maharani Trophy on May 22, the former India fast bowler revealed that architects from all over the globe are being consulted, and the process will commence shortly.
“One of the reasons why the IPL final was moved from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad could have been the seating capacity. We had close to 28 architects – from across the globe – show interest in redesigning and redeveloping the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. We are in the process of shortlisting the final team of architects,” Prasad told reporters in Bengaluru.
The KSCA is also planning to install new LED floodlights at three stadiums, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Srikantadatta Narasimha Raja Wadeyar Stadium in Mysuru, and KSCA Stadium in Hubballi. The Maharaja Trophy 2026 will be played in Mysuru and Hubballi. Since M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was suspended from hosting any events, last year the entire Maharaja Trophy was played in Mysuru. Although cricket has returned to Bengaluru, the stadium will undergo remodelling, and therefore, KSCA will divide the games between Mysuru and Hubballi.
“Keeping in mind the condition of pitches, the tournament will be conducted in three phases. Phase one will be held in Mysuru, then we move to Hubballi and come back to Mysuru for the final leg,” Santosh Menon, KSCA Secretary, said.
The six-team tournament will begin on June 20 and the final will be played on July 12. Two new teams — Mangaluru (owned by Klene Paks Ltd) and Shivamogga (owned by ICS Mobile Pvt. Ltd), will join the league. Each team can pick 16 to 18 players, including two from their local catchment area.
The Maharani Trophy will feature four teams, and the KSCA will announce more details soon.
“To ensure that there is no compromise on the quality of players in this tournament, the pool of players will be picked by the KSCA selection committee. We will give franchises a pool of 130 to 150 players to pick their squads. Nobody outside of this pool will be allowed to participate in the tournament. Even the catchment area players have to undergo the scrutiny of the KSCA selection committee,” Santosh added.