Bengaluru: Chinnaswamy Stadium Begins Ticket Refunds for Washed-Out RCB-SRH Match

The Karnataka State Cricket Association on Monday initiated the refund process for thousands of fans holding physical tickets to the rain-abandoned Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) versus Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL match originally scheduled for May 23 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Ticket counters at the stadium opened at 11 AM and will remain operational daily until 8 PM through Wednesday to process refunds for physical ticket holders. The decision comes after torrential rains in Bengaluru last week left the ground waterlogged and unplayable, forcing organizers to shift the match at short notice to Lucknow's Ekana Cricket Stadium.

The relocated fixture saw SRH hand RCB a crushing 42-run defeat, becoming the first visiting team to beat the Bengaluru franchise away from home this IPL season. The loss snapped RCB's six-match away winning streak and dropped them to third position in the points table behind Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings.

In another match, the RCB defeated the KKR by seven wickets.

"While we're disappointed the match couldn't be held in Bengaluru as planned, we want to ensure our fans are taken care of," said a KSCA official overseeing the refund process. "All valid ticket holders can claim refunds at the stadium counters through May 29."

Despite the setback, RCB (17 points from 13 matches) has already secured playoff qualification. They now face a crucial final league match against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday where a victory could propel them back into the top two.

For SRH, already eliminated from playoff contention, the win served as a consolation prize in what has been a difficult season. Their bowlers dismantled RCB's batting lineup in Lucknow, restricting the star-studded team to 138/9 while defending 180.

Cricket officials confirmed this was the first complete venue shift in IPL 2025 due to weather conditions. The league's governing council has instituted strict refund policies for such contingencies, with digital ticket holders receiving automatic refunds to their payment methods within 7-10 business days.