The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has addressed the Board of Control to Cricket in India (BCCI) requesting it to carry on with the use of Sawai Mansingh Stadium of Jaipur as the home of Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The request comes after concerns about the facilities at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Due to these issues, the Rajasthan Royals have looked at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium in Pune.
The team is unhappy with the current facilities in Jaipur and is thinking about moving their home matches to Pune for IPL 2026.
Background and Context of the Rajasthan Royals Home-Ground Issue
Rajasthan Royals officials in the house of Pune made a visit in Gahunje stadium in Pune on 18 November 2025. They showed a keen interest in hosting the primary home matches there, according to the secretary of the MCA. The ultimate decision of changing the venue is with the BCCI, but the inspection highlighted the fact that they were not pleased with the facilities there in the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
According to media reports, the franchise had hired a third-party evaluation of the Jaipur location, which allegedly found shortcomings in it. The RCA claimed that it had not been consulted or informed of the findings of the assessment. In late 2025, the Royals also visited the Holkar Stadium in Indore, but there was no outcome of the visit.
To make the situation worse, the RCA has had an ad hoc committee that has been appointed by the state to operate it for the past two years. The BCCI has also threatened that IPL matches can not be held in Jaipur unless the association holds elections and puts in place an elected body.
The BCCI was confirmed by the IPL chairman, Arun Dhumal in writing that, without elections, the BCCI would find it hard to hold the IPL at that ground, and that venues had to be of IPL standard.
In the meantime, the relationship between the Royals and ad hoc committee worsened further when one of the RCA officials accused the franchise of match-fixing in the 2025 season- a claim strongly denied by the team. The official was subsequently barred by the RCA which termed the allegations as “false and baseless.”
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RCA’s Formal Appeal to the BCCI and Early Reactions from Stakeholders
The ad hoc committee of the RCA, headed by Deen Dayal Kumawat, called on the BCCI to revert Jaipur to IPL 2026 in a letter sent in late December 2025. The committee assured the BCCI, IPL authorities and Rajasthan Royals that “all necessary safety measures – without exception – will be implemented well in advance of the IPL”, in line with BCCI guidelines and government regulations.
As much as the RCA understood the concerns involved in the franchise, the RCA held that any safety or structural assessment must be done in accordance with legal and technical standards. In addition, the association restated that it was not part of the third-party inspection of the franchise, and it stated that the stadium is structurally sound and has operational safety.
In order to highlight the preparedness of the stadium, the RCA noted that Jaipur regularly hosted Vijay Hazare Trophy matches and listed games involving Rohit Sharma, with no safety or security problems. The association insisted on the fact that Sawai Mansingh Stadium has hosted matches of the IPL tournament for almost 20 years, as well as various domestic and international matches. It was the historic venue where the Rajasthan Royals could play.
The RCA promised the BCCI that it was open to cooperating with all the stakeholders to clear the unresolved matters and demanded that IPL 2026 be hosted in Jaipur by the Royals. As of January 2026, the Royalties, as well as the BCCI, have not publicly addressed the letter.
Yet, it has been reported that the Royals are still willing to play in Pune, unless the franchise is guaranteed by the structural safety and facilities. At the beginning of January 2026, the venue was not declared by the BCCI.
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Implications for IPL 2026 and the Potential Impact on Rajasthan Royals’ Fan Base
Sawai Mansingh Stadium is not merely a cricket field; it is the home of the Royals and a significant component of the sporting culture of Jaipur. The stadium is the main base of the Rajasthan Royals, which started hosting the IPL tournament back in 2008.
Moving home matches would reduce the home-field advantage of the franchise and affect the ticket sales and other local businesses that gain from the IPL tourism. In its letter, the RCA has put emphasis on strong local backing and has indicated that thousands of fans came to watch Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, and the citizens of Rajasthan have been strong backers of the Royals.
The shift in venue would also compel the fans to make a trip to Pune or Guwahati, which is the second home of the Royals. Competitively, homeland playing usually improves the morale and performance of a team.
The decision by the Royals to transfer to Pune would offset part of this advantage and give the fans in western India more time to see the team. Alternatively, staying in Jaipur would ensure that the franchise has closer connections with its fan base and retain traditional sponsors of the franchise in the form of local vendors and hotels.
The structural safety and appropriate governance on the BCCI mean that any decision made will weigh in the sentiment of fans as compared to regulation.
What Happens Next
The BCCI has the last say on the venue of the IPL 2026 for the Rajasthan Royals. According to the board, Jaipur will not be given a chance until the RCA holds elections and satisfies the venue requirements.
The RCA has expressed readiness to hold elections if required and is waiting for the BCCI’s directions. Should the board approve the Pune option, the Royals are expected to split their home matches between the MCA Stadium in Pune and the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
Assuming that the BCCI trusted the guarantees made by the RCA and that the stadium passed the safety check, Jaipur might keep hosting the matches of the Rajasthan Royals team, keeping the long-traditional home location of the team. The decision of the BCCI will not be announced in an official program, but the fans and stakeholders have to wait until clarity is provided, as of 5 January 2026.
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FAQs
1. Why did Rajasthan Royals consider moving their home matches from Jaipur to Pune for IPL 2026?
The Royals were unhappy with the facilities at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium. During an inspection on 18 November 2025, franchise officials visited Pune’s MCA Stadium and expressed strong interest in playing most of their home games there, but any relocation still needs BCCI approval.
2. What assurances did the Rajasthan Cricket Association give the BCCI regarding the Sawai Mansingh Stadium?
The RCA assured the BCCI and IPL authorities that all necessary safety measures would be implemented at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in line with BCCI guidelines and government regulations back in late December 2025 through a letter.
3. How long has Sawai Mansingh Stadium been the home ground for the Rajasthan Royals?
Sawai Mansingh Stadium has been the Rajasthan Royals’ primary home ground since the inaugural IPL season in 2008. The RCA’s appeal to the BCCI noted that Jaipur has historically been, and continues to be, the franchise’s home venue.
4. Why might Jaipur lose IPL matches unless certain conditions are met?
On 18 December 2025, the BCCI warned that Jaipur would not host IPL matches until the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) held elections and installed an elected governing body. The board emphasized that only an elected body can properly manage matches and ensure safety and operational standards are met.
5. What alternative venues and implications for fans are being considered if the Royals move away from Jaipur?
If Jaipur cannot host matches, the Rajasthan Royals could split their home games between the MCA Stadium in Pune and the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. This would require fans to travel outside Rajasthan and reduce the team’s home-field advantage, while also limiting the local economic benefits of hosting IPL matches.
