Despite being included in the initial schedule for IPL 2026 by the BCCI, the fate of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the home ground of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), remains uncertain. An expert committee appointed by the Karnataka government is set to inspect the stadium on March 13 to decide on its suitability for hosting IPL matches.
Following a tragic stampede near the stadium that resulted in fatalities and injuries, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted any RCB games. The Karnataka government had initially prohibited events at the venue but later granted conditional permission for cricket matches to resume.
Significant safety upgrades have been made at the stadium, including the installation of new entry gates and the creation of exit and entry points for emergencies. The Justice D’ Cunha Committee had set a deadline for the Karnataka State Cricket Association to complete essential safety enhancements by March 15.
To ensure the safety of spectators, Karnataka’s Home Minister has assured the implementation of all recommended safety measures at the Chinnaswamy Stadium before hosting matches. Additional police deployment is planned to prevent any untoward incidents during the games. RCB, the defending champions, are scheduled to kick off their IPL 2026 campaign with a home match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28, followed by a clash against Chennai Super Kings in their next home fixture.
