It’s all cool between the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) after an ugly dispute over IPL 2025 tickets. SRH threatened to complain to the BCCI and relocate their home venue out of Hyderabad. However, after a detailed discussion, HCA and SRH have resolved the dispute. HCA will get 3900 complimentary tickets as per the existing agreement. There won’t be any lockdowns at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
“During the discussions, SRH proposed strictly adhering to the existing tri-party agreement between SRH, HCA, and BCCI. It ensures that 10% of the available stadium capacity across all sections is allocated accordingly,” HCA said in a press release.
The resolution came after a telephonic discussion with SRH CEO Shanmugam. HCA assured full cooperation with SRH to foster an amicable atmosphere for the upcoming IPL matches in Hyderabad.
What is the new ticket distribution?
As per the agreement, SRH issue 10% of the available tickets to the host association. As the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium has a capacity of 39,000, HCA will get 3900 tickets to distribute among the apex council members who oversee local clubs.
- SRH will give HCA 3900 complimentary tickets for each home game in Hyderabad
- 2,400 tickets will be distributed among HCA Apex Council members who manage local cricket clubs.
- 1,500 tickets will go to police officials, water supply employees, electricity department staff, and other government workers.
HCA vs SRH Ticket Dispute
Earlier, SRH manager Srinath TB shot an email to HCA treasurer CJ Srinivas, accusing president Jagan Mohan Rao of coercive tactics. He further alleged “intimidation, coercion, and blackmailing” over free IPL tickets. Srinath alleged that Jagan Mohan Rao locked F3 corporate box, refusing access unless SRH provided 20 additional complimentary tickets.
“Mr Kiran attempted to address this issue directly with you to prevent escalation, but you still refused to open the box till one hour before the start of the game,” Srinath wrote. He labeled the act as “illegal and unacceptable,” warning that it jeopardized the working relationship between SRH and HCA.
An HCA official told The Indian Express that some officials had threatened to cut off water and electricity supplies to the stadium if their demands for additional tickets weren’t met. This added a layer of complexity to the dispute, prompting further scrutiny.
SRH even threatened to escalate the matter to the BCCI. The franchise also threatened to relocate their home venue from Hyderabad if the issue persisted.
HCA buckles under pressure
In response, HCA Secretary R Devraj organised a meeting with SRH representatives Kiran, Saravanan, and Rohit Suresh at the Uppal Stadium. The discussions proved fruitful, leading to the current resolution. HCA emphasized its commitment to maintaining harmony with SRH for the remainder of the IPL season.
The controversy caught the attention of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. he directed the Director-General (Vigilance and Enforcement) Kothakota Sreenivasa Reddy to investigate SRH’s allegations against HCA.
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