A final decision on whether defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play its home matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is likely to be made in the coming week.
Ever since the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) put out a press release earlier this month thanking RCB for a recce of the MCA Stadium in Pune, there have been heightened rumours about the franchise shifting its matches out of the Garden City.
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has been in the dock ever since 11 people died in a stampede during RCB’s title-winning celebrations on June 4, 2025. Hosting matches there is conditional to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) implementing the recommendations of the Justice Michael D’Cunha report, formulated as part of the investigation into the tragedy.
Recently, the State government denied permission to hold Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, citing non-compliance, which meant Virat Kohli played two games for Delhi behind closed doors at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in the city’s outskirts.
Even Karnataka’s upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh from January 22 will be held at the Alur Grounds.
Vinay Mruthyunjaya, KSCA’s official spokesperson, told Sports stars on Tuesday that talks were ongoing with RCB and that there was no official confirmation about the franchise’s matches moving out of Bengaluru.
“We will be able to provide an official statement next week,” he said. “With regards to the Ranji Trophy match, Chinnaswamy Stadium was never in the picture because a lot of preparatory work is going on.”
Published on Jan 13, 2026
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