The home venue for the Rajasthan Royals, Sawai Mansingh Stadium (SMS), hangs in the balance as Rajasthan Royals have formally requested an indemnity waiver from the Rajasthan state government after a comprehensive 700-page independent audit commissioned by the franchise and conducted by Tata projects declared the venue unsafe for IPL-scale crowds, leaving the BCCI unable to finalise the league’s full match ahead of the season set to begin on March 26, 2026.
The Audit and Its Findings
The safety review took place between December 2025 and January 2026, after the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) granted permission on November 28. The review was carried out by Tata Projects over two months, testing the stadium against several central government-established national regulatory codes: the National Building Code (NBC), the National Electric Code (NEC), the Fire Safety Code, and the Safety Code for Sports Grounds.
The 700-page report uncovered grave deficiencies at SMS, including failures to meet regulatory standards in safety, structural integrity, and adherence to the central codes. The audit rendered the venue “unsafe” for the IPL-scale crowds.
The Royals first raised safety concerns in June 2024. Since then, the franchise has repeatedly highlighted significant limitations in emergency evacuation and civic infrastructure. They have been formally communicating these issues to the RSSC, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the IPL governing council.
The State Government’s Position
The Rajasthan government pushed back against the audit’s culmination. Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas to BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia directly, assuring the board that the safety of fans and spectators remains the state’s highest priority.
The letter categorically stated that there is no issue with the stadium’s safety, security, or structural integrity. The government said it has set up a high-level committee, comprising senior professors from MNIT, senior officials of the state government, engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD), and other domain experts. It also mentioned that the committee found the stadium to be fully safe and secure, with only certain minor improvements suggested.
RSSC Chairman Neeraj K. Pawan said the fixes required are minor and can be resolved promptly before the IPL season begins.
The RSSC’s PWL-led review was carried out in 10 days, compared to the franchise’s two-month independent audit, a discrepancy that’s fueling the disagreement.
The Indemnity Waiver Demand
The Rajasthan Royals have stated that they will host home matches at SMS stadium only if the state government provides an indemnity waiver – a formal legal assurance that releases and protects the franchise from liabilities in the event of any injuries, damages, or losses during home games, while also promising to cover any corresponding costs and legal fees, keeping accountability with venue authorities for any pre-existing safety shortcomings beyond franchise’s control.
The demand came forward in the context of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede tragedy in 2025, which killed multiple fans during an RCB match in Bengaluru and significantly raised safety scrutiny across IPL venues nationwide.
BCCI’s Concern and Schedule Delays
The tentative conclusions regarding Sawai Mansingh Stadium have left the BCCI with a delayed final IPL 2026 schedule, with the franchises facing a significant operational problem less than six weeks away from the season.
A BCCI source reported that SMS Stadium lagged behind other IPL venues in modern facilities, overall fan experience, and essential amenities. The board has rated SMS lowest among all IPL grounds in the spectators’ experience.
The BCCI also emphasized that the RSSC had been granted exceptional direct access to state authorities during IPL 2024 and 2025 due to the absence of a functioning Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), but warned that this cannot be set as a permanent precedent.
Alternate Venues
With the unresolved Jaipur situation, the Royals had already begun contingency planning. Their operations team travelled to Pune to inspect the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Gahunje. They reviewed pitch conditions, seating capacity, player facilities, hotel availability, and travel logistics.
If the contingency plan moves forward, Pune will host the majority of Rajasthan’s home matches for IPL 2026, while Guwahati will serve as the franchise’s secondary home venue for an expected three matches — as it has for the past two seasons.
The Royals have hosted 67 matches at SMS Stadium, winning 43 of them. However, in the last five years, they have won only six of their last 15 games at the venue.
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What’s Next
The next course of action depends on whether the Rajasthan state government agrees to the franchise’s indemnity waiver request. While defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have received the necessary clearance from the Karnataka government to play their IPL 2026 matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Royals remain locked in a standoff with the Jaipur administration.
If no agreement is reached before the scheduled finalisation deadline, Pune is all set to serve as the Royals’ primary home venue for the 2026 season, ending what has been an 18-year association between the franchise and Sawai Mansingh Stadium, at least temporarily.
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FAQs
1. Why is Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 home venue in crisis?
A 700-page Tata Projects safety audit declared Sawai Mansingh Stadium unsafe for IPL-scale crowds, flagging inadequate fire exits, structural issues, outdated floodlights, and a weak evacuation plan.
2. Why are the Rajasthan Royals not playing in Jaipur for IPL 2026?
Rajasthan Royals may not play at Sawai Mansingh Stadium this season after a Tata Projects safety audit spanning 700 pages found the venue unfit for IPL-scale crowds.
3. What did the SMS Stadium safety audit find?
The Tata Projects audit, conducted over two months between December 2025 and January 2026, tested the stadium against four central government safety codes and found it falling short across multiple areas. Fire exits were flagged as inadequate, the South Block raised structural concerns, the evacuation plan was considered underdeveloped, floodlights were outdated, and the alleys, walkways, and entry-exit points were found deficient. The 700-page report effectively declared the venue unsafe for the volume of fans that attend IPL matches.
4. What is an indemnity waiver and why are the Rajasthan Royals asking for one?
An indemnity waiver in this case is a formal legal protection that releases and protects the franchise from liabilities in the event of any injuries, damages, or losses during home games, while also promising to cover any corresponding costs and legal fees, keeping accountability with venue authorities for any pre-existing safety shortcomings beyond franchise’s control.
The request comes against the backdrop of the June 2025 crowd crush at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which killed 11 people during RCB’s post-IPL victory celebrations and put fan safety at the top of every franchise’s agenda.
5. Where will the Rajasthan Royals play home matches in IPL 2026?
If no agreement is reached before the scheduled finalisation deadline, Pune is all set to serve as the Royals’ primary home venue for the 2026 season
