Royal Challengers Bengaluru might not play at their home ground next season. The Maharashtra Cricket Association just made a surprising offer to RCB. They want to host home matches for RCB at Pune’s stadium. This comes after something tragic happened at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium recently.
Why RCB Might Leave Bengaluru for IPL 2026
Something absolutely heartbreaking occurred during RCB’s victory celebrations in Bengaluru last season. A stampede took place outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium after their championship win. Eleven people lost their lives in that terrible incident sadly.
That tragedy has raised serious safety concerns about hosting matches there. Authorities are worried about crowd management at the Bengaluru venue now. The stadium might not get clearance for hosting IPL 2026 games.
RCB desperately needs an alternative venue if Bengaluru becomes unavailable suddenly. Playing without a proper home ground creates huge disadvantages for teams. Fans also deserve a safe place to watch their favourite players.
Maharashtra Cricket Association’s Offer to RCB
MCA secretary Kamlesh Pisal confirmed talks are happening with RCB. Pune’s stadium could become the backup option for home matches for RCB. The discussions are still in early stages right now.
“We are in discussions, but they have not confirmed yet. They are looking into other venues, and we have been in discussions with them. But they will only be able to confirm after the auction. A couple of technical things need to be sorted out. We are in discussion with (vice-president and head of RCB) Rajesh Menon,” Pisal said.
Both sides need to sort out several technical details first. Player auction happens soon, and decisions will come after that. RCB management is carefully considering all available options before IPL 2026.
Pune hosted IPL matches successfully many times in the past. The stadium has good facilities and decent crowd capacity overall. MCA believes they can handle RCB’s home games without major issues.
What This Means for IPL 2026
Playing home matches for RCB in Pune changes everything for the franchise. Travel schedules and fan support will look completely different next season. RCB supporters in Bengaluru might not see matches happening there.
This situation also affects venue selection for the T20 World Cup 2026. Bengaluru was supposed to host some important tournament games too. But those plans might change if safety concerns continue to persist.
The IPL 2026 season is approaching fast, with many questions unanswered. RCB needs clarity soon about where they’ll actually play next year. Fans are hoping for quick decisions from all parties involved.
