Royal Challengers Bengaluru have received a major boost ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season as the Karnataka government has granted permission to host matches at Bengaluru’s iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The decision clears the way for the defending champions to begin their campaign at their home venue. RCB will start their IPL 2026 journey on March 28 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and fans will once again be able to watch matches at the packed Chinnaswamy stands.
Government clears Chinnaswamy after security review
The Karnataka government granted approval following an important meeting involving the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), government officials and an expert committee. The meeting was chaired by Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara, where the stadium’s security arrangements and infrastructure preparedness were reviewed.
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Earlier on March 13, the expert committee inspected the venue and assessed safety measures before submitting its report to the government. Based on that report, the state administration gave the green signal to host IPL matches at the stadium this season. KSCA later confirmed that the required preparations and security arrangements were in place to conduct matches safely.
Cricket returns to venue after last year’s tragedy
The return of IPL matches to the Chinnaswamy Stadium comes after a difficult period for the venue. Last year, a stampede outside the stadium during RCB’s victory celebration led to the death of 11 people, raising serious concerns about crowd management and security arrangements.
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Since that incident, no competitive matches had been held at the ground. However, after taking charge as KSCA president, former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad had assured that cricket would return to the historic venue once safety measures were strengthened. With government approval now in place, the stadium is set to host RCB’s home matches again this IPL season.
