Despite the in-principle approval from the Karnataka government, the fate of the IPL 2026 matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru remains uncertain. What should have been a routine confirmation has turned into a complicated back-and-forth between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association and state authorities. The IPL season is scheduled to start from March 26, so clarity is still awaited.
The uncertainty comes from the tragic events of June 4, 2025, when celebrations after RCB's maiden IPL title win ended in a stampede outside the stadium, leaving 11 dead and more than 50 injured. Following this, cricket matches at the venue were suspended. The Karnataka government constituted an inquiry committee headed by Justice John Michael Cunha, which made several security recommendations. Subsequently, another panel led by M. Maheswara Rao, Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, was tasked with assessing compliance.
While Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil had recently announced that the Cabinet has decided to allow IPL matches at the venue, the approval comes with conditions. The Home Department has been asked to issue special orders detailing the compliance requirements for KSCA and RCB. Key conditions include widening of stadium gates and access points to improve crowd management and public safety.
KSCA has confirmed that extensive infrastructure and security enhancement works are underway. Many spectator gates and access points are being demolished and widened in line with the recommendations of experts. According to officials, the work is going on as per schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of the month. However, it appears that the franchise is seeking unconditional nod rather than conditional nod, given the sensitivity surrounding last year's tragedy.
Meanwhile, RCB has reportedly conducted recce in Raipur and is exploring the possibility of shifting the matches to the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium. The delay in confirming Bengaluru as a venue has also contributed to the widespread postponement of the announcement of the IPL 2026 schedule. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is waiting for the dates of assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala before finalizing the schedules. Traditionally, the IPL calendar is aligned with the election schedule to ensure adequate security deployment.
A similar situation has emerged in Jaipur, where Rajasthan Royals have demanded formal compensation from the state government before hosting the games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. In a note to the BCCI and the government, the franchise requested protection from liability arising from structural, life-safety, electrical, or public safety failures beyond their operational control. Reports suggest that RR may play four of its seven home matches in Jaipur after government intervention.
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