Published: Jan 09, 2026, 05:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 09, 2026, 05:19 PM (IST)
Cricket fans in Bengaluru are facing disappointing news ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), along with star batter Virat Kohli, are unlikely to return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the upcoming season.
According to sources, RCB are not expected to host their home matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium during IPL 2026. This development comes after a horrifying stampede incident in Bengaluru that claimed the lives of 11 people, while several others were seriously injured. The tragic incident has reportedly cast a negative image around hosting large-scale events at the venue.
Sources further revealed that RCB have not yet approached the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) regarding hosting IPL matches at the stadium. This has led to speculation that the franchise is not keen on returning to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, even though the IPL 2026 season is expected to begin on March 21.
Meanwhile, Raipur in Chhattisgarh has emerged as the front-runner to become RCB’s new home venue for IPL 2026. Indore in Madhya Pradesh is also being considered as an alternative option.
Notably, concerns around the Chinnaswamy Stadium surfaced earlier as well. Virat Kohli’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh, scheduled on December 24, 2025, was shifted from the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium at the last moment.
In another major venue update, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune will host Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) home matches in IPL 2026, sources confirmed.
RR’s decision to move away from their traditional home ground, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, comes amid ongoing disputes with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). Tensions escalated during IPL 2025 when an RCA official accused the franchise of match-fixing. Rajasthan Royals strongly denied the allegations and demanded strict action against the individual involved.
The MCA Stadium in Pune is a well-established international venue. It has hosted men’s international matches across all formats, including games during the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup, as well as the Women’s T20 Challenge.
In IPL history, the Pune stadium has served as a home ground for several teams, including Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, and Chennai Super Kings at different times during the 2010s.
