Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five of their IPL 2026 home matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and the remaining two at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, the franchise confirmed on Tuesday, March 3.
The announcement ends months of uncertainty over whether RCB could return to their home ground following the stampede that killed 11 people outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025 — the day the city came out in thousands to celebrate the franchise’s maiden IPL title.
What Happened After the Stampede
The tragedy outside the Chinnaswamy during RCB’s victory parade forced an immediate pause on cricket at the venue. In the months that followed, the stadium did not host a single major domestic fixture — not the Ranji Trophy, not the Vijay Hazare Trophy, not even the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20. Matches from the Women’s World Cup that were originally scheduled at the ground had to be relocated.
The Karnataka state government constituted the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Committee to investigate the incident and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence. The committee’s findings became the basis for a 17-point infrastructure overhaul that the Karnataka State Cricket Association was required to complete before cricket could resume at the ground.
On January 17, the state government issued conditional approval for cricket operations to restart at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, subject to the KSCA meeting the terms laid down by the authorities. A formal clearance followed on February 12, effectively reopening the venue for competitive cricket.
What Needs to Be Done Before IPL Begins
The KSCA has until March 15 to complete all pending infrastructure work. Key among the requirements is the widening of entry and exit gates, which the D’Cunha report had identified as a major shortcoming contributing to the chaos on June 4. The association is also working on ensuring smooth access for ambulances in and around the venue, and on designating the old National Cricket Academy premises — which has a large open area — as an assembly zone where crowds can gather and disperse in an organised manner before moving to their respective stands.
There has been no directive issued to reduce the stadium’s crowd capacity, which had been a significant concern for RCB during the period of uncertainty. RCB had also sought clarity from the state government and police on the question of liability.
A key sticking point was the vague use of the term “organisers” in the safety directives, which could have placed the entire burden of responsibility for any incident on the franchise alone. RCB argued that three parties were involved — the franchise, the KSCA, and state police or government agencies — and that the responsibility needed to be clearly distributed. The franchise received clarity on this at a meeting between KSCA and RCB officials on Monday, after which a formal communication was sent.
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Raipur: A Prior Commitment
The two matches in Raipur are being held as per the commitments RCB had made earlier. In January, franchise CEO Rajesh Menon had met officials from the Chhattisgarh government to discuss the possibility of hosting matches at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai extended his support for the arrangement, including certain tax exemptions, and an MoU was signed.
The Raipur venue is no stranger to IPL cricket. It previously hosted six matches in the tournament, including a spell as a temporary base for the Delhi Daredevils. The last of those fixtures came in 2016 and also featured RCB, with Virat Kohli winning the Player of the Match award for an unbeaten 54.
Season Opener and Finals at Chinnaswamy
Traditionally, the IPL season opens with the defending champions playing at their home ground. That tradition will hold in 2026. KSCA secretary Santosh Menon confirmed that the Chinnaswamy will host the season opener on March 28. The stadium will also host a playoff match and the tournament final on May 31.
RCB’s confirmation is also expected to clear the way for the official IPL 2026 schedule announcement, though that remains subject to the declaration of election dates in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu — home states of Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings respectively.
What RCB and KSCA Said
RCB CEO Rajesh Menon said the Chinnaswamy was central to the franchise’s identity. “The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just our home ground — it is where our identity as a team truly comes alive. The energy our fans bring to Bengaluru has always been a driving force for our players, inspiring them through every phase of the game. Our fans have stood by us unconditionally, and they deserve the opportunity to watch their team compete at home.”
“After detailed discussions and completing the necessary due process around permissions, we are pleased to confirm that RCB will play five matches in Bengaluru. We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, the KSCA, and the Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible,” Menon added.
The franchise also acknowledged the work that went into making the return possible. “This significant development comes after months of hard work and close coordination across all concerned authorities with a common goal of bringing the games back home for the fans. The collective efforts to ramp up infrastructure and safety measures in time for the IPL season have ensured that the defending champions will play the majority of their home games in their home ground.”
Match Schedule at a Glance
| Venue | Matches |
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 5 (including season opener, one playoff, and the final) |
| Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur | 2 |
RCB have called the Chinnaswamy home since the IPL’s first season in 2008. After nine months without cricket, the ground is set to come alive again when the defending champions walk out for the season opener on March 28.
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