IPL 2026: RCB will not play matches in M Chinnaswamy Stadium

IPL 2026: The potential shift for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for IPL 2026 is due to the suspension of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium from hosting major events. IPL 2026: RCB will not play matches in M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

This ban follows the tragic stampede that occurred outside the stadium on June 4, 2025, during the team’s victory parade after winning the IPL 2025 title. A commission investigating the incident declared the stadium “unsuitable and unsafe” for large-scale gatherings.

Alternative Home Ground for RCB (IPL 2026):

The most likely alternative venue for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home matches in IPL 2026 is the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Gahunje, Pune. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has offered its stadium to RCB, and discussions are currently underway between the franchise and MCA officials.

MCA secretary Kamlesh Pisal stated that Pune is considered the “most ideal location” for RCB after Bengaluru, citing factors like the airport, hotel accommodation, logistics, capacity of the ground, and fan base. The arrangement is not yet final, as a few technical and logistical issues need to be resolved, and a decision is expected to be finalized after the player auction.

If this move is finalized, it would be the first time since the IPL’s inception that RCB plays all its home games outside of Bengaluru.

Other Potential Venues Mentioned in Discussions:

While Pune is the frontrunner, other venues that were mentioned as potential alternatives include:

Greenfield International Stadium – Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium – Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

DY Patil Stadium – Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Also Read: IPL 2026 RCB release player list final: Karnataka player name included