IPL 2026: Virat Kohli will not play in Bengaluru

IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally lifted their maiden IPL trophy after 18 long years in 2025. It was a historic moment for the franchise and its passionate fanbase, who had endured numerous heartbreaks and near-misses over the seasons. IPL 2026: Virat Kohli will not play in Bengaluru.

This means that RCB will not be able to play their home matches at their traditional home ground in Bengaluru for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. This decision reportedly follows a tragic incident (a stampede) that occurred outside the stadium after RCB’s IPL 2025 victory celebration.

The Karnataka government has reportedly filed a criminal case against RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association in connection with this incident. RCB will have a new “home” ground for IPL 2026. This new home ground could be in another city in Karnataka or even outside the state.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been declared “unsuitable and unsafe” for large-scale events by the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission. This commission was appointed by the Karnataka government to investigate the stampede that occurred on July 4, 2025, during RCB’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations, which tragically resulted in 11 deaths and over 50 injuries.

Unsuitable design and structure: The stadium’s current infrastructure is deemed inadequate for managing high-attendance gatherings.

Lack of safety features: This includes insufficient proper queuing and crowd control areas, limited entry and exit gates, poor access to public transport, and inadequate emergency evacuation plans.

Risk to public safety: The report explicitly stated that holding large events at the stadium poses “unacceptable risks to public safety, urban mobility, and emergency preparedness.”

Impact on RCB’s Home Matches for IPL 2026:

As a direct consequence of this report, it is highly likely that RCB will not be able to play their home matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for IPL 2026. This means the team will need to find a new “home” venue for the season.

Responsibility and Legal Action:

The commission’s report has also laid blame on RCB, its event partners (DNA Entertainment), and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for their roles in the poorly planned event. The Karnataka government has reportedly filed a criminal case against RCB and the KSCA. Departmental inquiries have also been initiated against several police officers.

Potential New Home Venues for RCB:

While no official alternative venue has been announced, some potential options being discussed for RCB’s home matches in IPL 2026 include:

MCA Stadium, Pune: A well-equipped stadium that has hosted IPL games in the past.

HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala: A newer ground with modern facilities, often used as a second home venue by teams.

Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur: Another stadium capable of hosting IPL matches with a large capacity.

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