The ongoing tensions between the United States of America, Iran and Israel could also impact the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) chairman Brijesh Goyal wrote to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, urging him to order the remainder of the matches to be held without spectators along with restricting the competition to only limited venues.
IPL 2026: Why does Chamber of Trade and Industry Chairman wants matches to be restricted to limited venues and games to take place without spectators?
The reason behind Goyal writing to Mandaviya over taking the drastic decision is due to the rising prices in fuel amid the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran. In a lengthy letter, CTI highlighted that chartered aircrafts used by a franchise to travel takes around 2,400 and 3,000 litres of Aviation Turbine Fuel per hour. With all ten teams taking nearly ten flights a season, a single side consumes nearly 50,000 to 70,000 litres of fuel. Additionally, inviting crowds in the stadium also burns petrol and diesel amid their transit through vehicles.
PHOTO | CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal writes a letter to Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, urging that the remaining matches of the Indian Premier League be held at limited venues and without spectators. pic.twitter.com/pgMjFYCZC6
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 17, 2026
Hence, the Chamber of Trade and Industry believes taking the measure of restricting the fixtures to limited venues and hosting games behind closed doors would serve national interest. The recent ₹3 per litre hike of petrol makes the conservation more and more necessary. The government has also recently stressed the need to conserve as much fuel as possible, including proposing work from home for corporate.
IPL 2026: Is the BCCI likely to implement the measures?
With the CTI suggesting a radical measure, it remains to be seen if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) takes these for the remainder of the ten-team competition. If the apex body of Indian cricket implements it, the board could cop significant losses due to the schedule for playoffs already out. With the playoffs nearing and the league stage to concluded on May 24, it is highly likely that the BCCI would want spectators in the venues.
In 2020, the BCCI had postponed the IPL to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the full tournament then took place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the secure bio-bubble. The following year forced the board to call off the tournament amid the surge of COVID cases among players, with the UAE yet again staging the remaining games.
