New Delhi: The Karnataka government has given conditional approval for cricket matches to be held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, paving the way for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to play their home games in IPL 2026 at the iconic venue.
The stadium had been banned from hosting matches following the tragic stampede on 4 June 2025, during celebrations of RCB’s maiden IPL title, which claimed 11 lives. Since then, the future of IPL matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium had remained uncertain.
Conditional Approval with Safety Measures
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar told reporters at Vidhana Soudha, “In the interest of youth and cricket, the government has decided to allow matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium under strict conditions.”
These conditions include:
- Ticket sales limited to approved capacity
- Installation of large gates for crowd control
- Deployment of ambulances and medical teams
- Full implementation of all safety recommendations made by the Justice Michael D’Cunha Commission
Shivakumar added, “This is welcome news for cricket fans. We regret the inconvenience and disappointment of recent days. We have lost a prestigious tournament, and we must remain vigilant in the future.”
High-Level Meeting Ensures Compliance
Earlier, the state government held a high-level meeting with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), RCB officials, and senior administrators, chaired by Home Minister G. Parameshwara. Present were officials including Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Tushar Girinath, DGP M.A. Salim, GBA Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayanand, and KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad.
The meeting focused on implementing the key recommendations of the D’Cunha Commission, including infrastructure upgrades for gates, walkways, and holding areas, as well as immediate measures like ambulances, doctors, and triage facilities.
According to tradition, the IPL season opens at the home ground of the defending champions. Since RCB won the previous season, the IPL 2026 opening match is scheduled at Chinnaswamy Stadium, pending full compliance with government guidelines. Home Minister Parameshwara also clarified that KSCA and RCB will bear responsibility for any untoward incidents during the matches.
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