Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) President Venkatesh Prasad mentioned that the fate of IPL 2026 games returning to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium now lies in the hands of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The stadium has been inactive since June 4, following a tragic incident during the IPL 2025 victory celebrations. Talks are ongoing about the possibility of RCB relocating their home matches to Navi Mumbai or Raipur.
Prasad emphasized that the decision to bring back IPL games rests with RCB. He highlighted the importance of RCB aligning with KSCA and the Karnataka government for this to happen. The KSCA President expressed gratitude to various stakeholders for granting conditional clearance to host games once more.
Acknowledging the progress made, Prasad mentioned that there is still significant work remaining. He thanked the government of Karnataka, including the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, for their support in this process. Prasad also praised the Home Minister for his involvement and support as a sports enthusiast.
Prasad discussed the infrastructural improvements required for hosting games and expressed optimism about completing them by the end of February. He outlined the completion of crucial aspects such as entrances, exits, spectator areas, and essential services like the fire department and BESCOM. Prasad highlighted the importance of addressing pending tasks, including facilitating fire engine access, to ensure all necessary arrangements are in place.
