The Karnataka State Cricket Association announced that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has received clearance to host Indian Premier League (IPL) and international cricket matches. This approval follows months of uncertainty after the stadium was removed from the cricketing calendar due to a tragic incident during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 title celebrations.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had relocated various significant events from the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the aftermath of the incident, including the Duleep Trophy, India–South Africa men’s A series, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. The return of marquee cricket fixtures to the venue was contingent on implementing recommendations from the Justice Michael D’Cunha report, which was established as part of the investigation into the tragedy.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association expressed confidence in meeting all specified conditions and emphasized its commitment to implementing safety, security, and crowd-management measures as outlined. Administrative changes within the KSCA were also noted, with a new panel taking charge to prioritize the reinstatement of matches at the iconic cricketing venue.
With the state government’s approval secured, the focus now shifts to whether Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play all their IPL 2026 home games at the Chinnaswamy Stadium or consider alternative venues, such as the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur.
