Bengaluru: Ahead of IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans have been dealt a major blow. The franchise will not play any of its home matches at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium due to safety concerns following last year’s tragic victory parade.
RCB to Play at Navi Mumbai and Raipur
RCB’s home matches will now be hosted across two venues: five matches at D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and two matches at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals will play their home matches at Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Pune.
Reason Behind the Shift
The decision follows the disastrous RCB victory parade last year, during which a stampede killed 11 people and injured over 50 others. Since then, security concerns have prevented the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium from hosting major events. RCB officials recently held meetings with relevant authorities to finalize the alternate arrangements, prioritizing fan safety above all.
Rajasthan Royals Also Affected
Rajasthan Royals will play their home matches in Pune after the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) failed to conduct its internal elections last year. IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal had earlier indicated that the internal turmoil within RCA could affect the staging of IPL matches in the state.
Chinnaswamy Stadium’s Struggle to Resume Major Matches
Since the tragic stampede on 4 June, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted any international matches. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has been in talks with the state government to resume major fixtures, but last December, the government denied permission for hosting Vijay Hazare Trophy matches citing security concerns. Consequently, those matches were shifted to the BCCI Center of Excellence.
With the IPL 2026 schedule set and alternate venues confirmed, RCB fans will have to adjust to cheering for their team away from their home ground, as safety remains the top priority.
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