IPL 2026: Busted! Virat Kohli's match ticket turns out to be AI-generated

Lucknow Super Giants finally registered their first home win of the IPL 2026 season after defeating Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Stadium, but the match was also overshadowed as fake AI-generated tickets being circulated outside the venue.

According to PTI, the Lucknow Police busted an interstate gang involved in forging IPL 2026 match tickets using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. During Thursday’s clash between LSG and RCB, police arrested four individuals for allegedly selling counterfeit tickets near the stadium gates.

As per PTI, the accused reportedly used ChatGPT along with graphic design software to create fake IPL tickets and sell them to unsuspecting cricket fans outside the stadium.

“Yesterday, during the IPL match between LSG and RCB at Ekana Stadium, a fake IPL ticket was found with a person," DCP (Lucknow South) Amit Kumar Anand told PTI.

“During questioning, it was revealed that someone outside the stadium had sold the ticket. Following this, the Cyber Cell Lucknow and the Sushant Golf City police team carried out an operation and arrested four accused. All of them are residents of Durg district in Chhattisgarh," he added.

LSG outclass RCB

Lucknow Super Giants defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine runs via the DLS method in a rain-hit IPL 2026 thriller at the Ekana Stadium, keeping their playoff hopes alive. In the reduced 19-over contest, Mitchell Marsh starred with a sensational 111 off 56 balls, while Rishabh Pant added a quick unbeaten 32 off 10 to power LSG to 209/3.

RCB suffered early blows as Virat Kohli fell for a duck and Jacob Bethell departed cheaply, with Prince Yadav impressing with figures of 3/33. Despite a fighting 61 from Rajat Patidar and late cameos from Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya, RCB fell short in the final over as Digvesh Rathi held his nerve.

The win snapped LSG’s six-match losing streak and gave them their first home victory of the season.

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