Bengaluru’s cricket fans face disappointing news this season. Their beloved team won’t play at home this year. The famous stadium remains closed for cricket matches. Safety concerns have forced this difficult decision. Fans must travel to other cities now.
Why Chinnaswamy Stadium Stays Closed
Last June brought heartbreak to Bengaluru’s cricket community. RCB held a victory parade that turned tragic. A stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium killed 11 people. Another 50 fans got hurt in the chaos.
Cricket stopped at the venue immediately after that day. The Karnataka government denied permission for the Vijay Hazare Trophy too. Those matches moved to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence instead. No international cricket has happened there since June 4th.
RCB Selects Two Venues for IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru found alternative homes for this season. RCB selects two venues after extensive discussions with authorities. The team will play seven home matches across two cities. This arrangement helps maintain their home advantage somewhat.
DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai hosts five matches. The Shaheen Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur gets two fixtures. Both venues have proper safety measures already in place. RCB officials confirmed this split arrangement recently.
“RCB will play five matches in Navi Mumbai and two in Raipur during IPL 2026. The RCB officials have finalised the arrangement recently after meetings with the concerned officials,” the report said.
Impact on IPL 2026 Season
IPL 2026 begins without Bengaluru as a host city. This marks a significant change for the tournament. Chinnaswamy Stadium has hosted countless memorable matches before. Its absence affects the league’s traditional flavour considerably.
Other teams also face venue changes this year. Rajasthan Royals might play at Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Pune. The Rajasthan Cricket Association lost hosting rights due to issues. IPL 2026 sees multiple teams playing away from home.
The Road to Recovery
Karnataka State Cricket Association keeps pushing for the stadium’s return. Officials meet with state government representatives regularly now. Bringing back top-flight cricket to Bengaluru remains their mission. These discussions happen almost every week lately.
Fans across the city miss their home ground desperately. Chinnaswamy Stadium created magical moments for decades. The atmosphere there was electric during big matches. Hopefully, the venue reopens once safety upgrades are finished.
