The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the IPL 2026 final, one playoff match, and five Royal Challengers Bengaluru home games after the Karnataka State Cricket Association confirmed the venue’s readiness following extensive safety upgrades mandated by last year’s tragic stampede, which claimed 11 lives during RCB’s title celebrations.
RCB Return to Home Ground After Nine-Month Suspension
KSCA Secretary Santosh Menon announced that Bengaluru will host the season opener on March 28, along with five RCB league matches, one playoff, and the tournament final.
“The RCB roar is going to echo again in the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The fans are going to be entertained at the inaugural function, followed by the first match, five league games, one playoff game, and the final,” Menon stated.
RCB’s remaining two home matches will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur as per prior commitments with the Chhattisgarh government.
In January 2026, RCB CEO Rajesh Menon met officials from the state government, with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai offering full support, including tax exemptions, while signing the MoU.
The franchise had explored Raipur as a backup venue during the uncertainty surrounding Chinnaswamy’s availability, and will honour those commitments despite clearance for their primary home ground.
Safety Concerns Addressed
Cricket at Chinnaswamy has been suspended since June 2025 after the stampede tragedy. RCB had sought clarity on safety responsibilities, particularly regarding the vague term “organisers,” since three parties are involved: RCB, KSCA, and the state police. These concerns were addressed at Monday’s meeting between franchise officials and KSCA under new president Venkatesh Prasad.
Infrastructure Upgrades Deadline March 15
KSCA is racing against time to complete a 17-point infrastructure overhaul by March 15. Key upgrades include widening gates for smoother entry and exit, ensuring ambulance access points, and utilizing the old National Cricket Academy premises as an assembly area for crowd management.
RCB CEO Rajesh Menon expressed gratitude: “The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is where our identity as a team truly comes alive. We sincerely thank the Government of Karnataka, KSCA, and Karnataka Police for their support in making this possible.”
