Royal Challengers Bengaluru have not confirmed their return to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for IPL 2026. The defending champions say they need to address “a few grey areas” before making a final decision on their home venue. RCB released an official statement on January 21 welcoming the Karnataka government’s decision to allow matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The franchise appreciated KSCA’s efforts to resume cricket at the iconic venue, but they still have concerns around match-day conditions and fan safety. Reports also suggest a key sticking point is the state government’s crowd management responsibility rules, which could place added obligations on organisers. With the IPL 2026 season expected to begin on March 26, RCB now has a limited time to finalise their home base.
RCB Still Not Ready to Confirm Chinnaswamy Return
RCB released an official statement on January 21 welcoming the Karnataka government’s decision to allow matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium. The franchise appreciated KSCA’s efforts to resume cricket at the iconic venue. However, they stopped short of confirming their participation.
“From our preliminary conversations, there are still a few grey areas that need to be looked into,” RCB said in their statement. “We are considering these parameters and inputs from all stakeholders before arriving at a responsible decision for the team and our fans.”
The franchise emphasized its fans-first approach and commitment to ensuring safety protocols are met. RCB wants to understand the conditions for hosting matches and the measures taken to protect fans at the stadium.
KSCA Confirms Approval, RCB Checks Backup Venues
KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad confirmed that the Karnataka government cleared the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to host IPL and international matches on January 17, subject to specific conditions.
“We are yet to hear from RCB about their final decision,” Prasad said. “The ball is in their court.”
KSCA has submitted a compliance roadmap to the government’s Expert Review Committee and plans to finish all required work by the end of February. This includes improving entry and exit points, managing traffic around Queen’s Road on match days, and using the NCA entrance for fan access.
RCB has also begun exploring backup venues, including DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and the Shaheed Veer Narayan Stadium in Raipur. The BCCI has asked RCB to confirm their home venue by January 27, with IPL 2026 set to begin on March 26.
