The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has urged the Union Sports Ministry to restructure the ongoing IPL 2026 season by staging the remaining matches at restricted venues without spectators.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal wrote to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, warning that the tournament’s massive energy footprint is unsustainable amid rising fuel prices.
CTI highlighted that chartered aircraft used by franchises consume between 2,400 and 3,000 litres of Aviation Turbine Fuel per hour. With each team taking about ten flights per season, a single franchise burns through 50,000 to 70,000 litres of fuel. The body also noted that stadium crowds of up to 50,000 people waste thousands of litres of petrol and diesel through vehicular commutes.
The trade body argued that the recent Rs 3 per litre hike in domestic fuel prices makes conservation urgent. It proposed replicating pandemic‑era bio‑bubble models, where matches were successfully staged without audiences at limited venues.
CTI believes the move would serve the national interest by reducing carbon emissions, conserving resources, and easing economic strain. The proposal has sparked debate over balancing sporting spectacle with environmental responsibility.
