IPL 2026: RCB will play matches in M.Chinnaswamy Stadium
IPL 2026: The final decision is expected later this evening following a cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Earlier today, a high-level meeting was held at Vidhana Soudha, where Home Minister G. Parameshwara met with KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad and other top officials to review the ground inspection reports.
The sentiment coming out of that meeting has been described as “extremely positive,” though permission will come with a strict set of conditions to ensure fan safety.
The stadium had lost its hosting rights following a tragic stampede on June 4, 2025, during RCB’s maiden IPL title celebrations, which resulted in 11 fatalities.
The Justice D’Cunha Report: This judicial commission investigated the tragedy and initially labeled the stadium “unsuitable and unsafe” for mass gatherings due to its design and structural limitations.
The report highlighted gross negligence in crowd management and a lack of coordination between the franchise, the KSCA, and local police.
To get the “green signal,” the KSCA has committed to implementing all 17 recommendations from the Justice D’Cunha report. Some of the major changes include:
Expanded Holding Areas: Using the adjacent KSCA ‘B’ ground and tennis courts as waiting zones to keep fans off the main roads.
Enhanced Infrastructure: Widening entry gates to 6 meters and moving most gates to Cubbon Road to ease congestion.
AI Surveillance: RCB has proposed installing over 300 AI-based cameras to monitor and regulate fan movement in real-time.
Capacity Review: The government has deferred a final decision on spectator capacity; the current 33,000 limit may be reassessed once all safety works are certified (deadline set for March 15).
If the cabinet gives its final approval, RCB (the defending champions) will finally be able to host their home matches in Bengaluru for the 2026 season, which is set to begin on March 26. This would end months of speculation that had the team considering “home” venues in Pune, Raipur, or Navi Mumbai.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2026: India will play against Pakistan on February 15
